The history of relations between Russia as the successor of the Soviet Union and the largest country in terms of population (130 million people) on the African continent dates back to November 25, 1960, when diplomatic relations were established between our countries after the declaration of independence of Nigeria (October 1, 1960).

In the first years after independence, Nigeria's relations with the Soviet Union did not develop significantly. Active political dialogue and economic cooperation between the two countries began during the internecine war of 1967 - 1970 in Nigeria, during which the USSR supported the federal government in its fight against separatists who tried to separate the oil-rich Eastern Region from the federation, declaring it an independent "Republic of Biafra". The political, diplomatic, and military-economic assistance of the Soviet Union made a significant contribution to preserving the unity and territorial integrity of the country. The role of the USSR is still highly appreciated in Nigeria,

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who took the side of the forces that fought for the unity of the state. During our stay in Nigeria, we had the opportunity to see this in conversations with both government and political figures, as well as ordinary Nigerians.

In the 1970s and 1980s, when Soviet-Nigerian cooperation was particularly intense, two oil pipelines were built in Nigeria with the economic and technical assistance of the USSR, geological exploration for metallurgical raw materials (iron ore, coal, non-metallic raw materials) was carried out, a training center for oil workers for 475 people was established in Warri, and a training center for oil workers was established. there is also a training complex for personnel training for the metallurgical industry. The main object of economic cooperation was the metallurgical plant in Ajaokuta.

In 1988, the highest volume of Soviet-Nigerian trade turnover was reached - about 184 million US dollars. At the same time, Soviet exports were mainly represented by machinery, equipment and materials used for the construction of a metallurgical plant, while imports were represented by small amounts of tropical agricultural products, in particular, cocoa beans and cocoa products.

Dozens of Soviet doctors and university teachers worked in Nigeria. Hundreds of young Nigerians were sent to study in the USSR. New forms of cooperation were also being developed. Thus, in the second half of the 1980s, the first Soviet-Nigerian joint venture was established.

The collapse of the Soviet Union, on the one hand, and the rise to power in Nigeria of the dictatorial regime of General Sani Abacha, on the other, predetermined the stagnation of Russian - Nigerian relations. In the 1990s, Nigeria experienced an increase in economic crisis phenomena, corruption, bribery and embezzlement in the upper echelons of power increased sharply, and economic fraud initiated by criminal elements of Nigeria went beyond national borders.

Only the sudden death of S. Abacha in June 1998 and the country's transition to civilian rule in 1999, as well as positive trends in the political and economic situation of Russia, led to a turn towards a new political and economic rapprochement between the two countries. In 1999, they signed an agreement on cooperation in combating illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. Trade is beginning to pick up, with trade turnover rising from $ 30.1 million in 1999 to $ 80.8 million in 2003. Russia's main exports to Nigeria are rolled ferrous metals and household appliances. As before, our country receives mainly small shipments of cocoa beans and cocoa products from Nigeria.

An important impetus to the further development of Russian-Nigerian relations was the practical implementation of the provisions set out in the documents signed during the visit of Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo to Moscow in March 2001. He met and held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The adopted documents emphasized, in particular, the need to activate the activities of the Intergovernmental Russian-Nigerian Joint Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation. The first meeting of the Commission was held in December 2004 in Moscow. The Russian side was headed by the head of the Federal Energy Agency S. A. Oganesyan, and the Nigerian side was headed by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs A. Tanko. The parties reviewed the current state and prospects for the development of trade, economic, scientific, technical and financial relations and adopted a number of decisions and recommendations.

In the sphere of trade and investment cooperation, the parties agreed to intensify mutual exchange of information on the export opportunities and import needs of the two countries, the situation of the respective markets, on legislative and other legal acts regulating the spheres of trade and investment.

The Russian side noted that the Russian machine-building complex is ready to supply the following products to Nigeria on a commercial basis: cars and trucks, including KAMAZ vehicles, motorcycles of various modifications; road construction and agricultural machinery; electrical products and equipment; machinery and equipment for the development of solid mineral deposits, oil and gas, construction gas and oil pipelines, water management facilities, port and hydraulic structures, etc.; civil aircraft and helicopters, boats, equipment for light industry and chemical plants, communication and telecommunications equipment, environmental monitoring and protection, modern medical equipment, tools and medicines; electric power equipment and spare parts for it; metal cutting machines and other equipment. forging and pressing equipment; shunting and mainline diesel locomotives; containers and tanks for liquid gas; quarry equipment, including excavators; equipment and spare parts for previously delivered equipment of Russian and Soviet production.

In the electric power sector, projects such as the complete restoration of the operating capacity of the Kainji hydroelectric power station, all operating units of the Sapele power plant, the reconstruction and construction of power lines, the construction of power plants in Abuja and Kaduka, as well as a plant for the production of

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mineral fertilizers in Kaduna.

Broad prospects for cooperation are opening up in the oil and gas industry. The parties confirmed their interest in cooperation in the following areas: conducting geological exploration and assessing the prospects for the development of Nigeria's raw material base; participation of Russian companies in tenders for the exploration, development and operation of promising hydrocarbon deposits on the shelf and mainland of Nigeria; construction of oil and gas transportation systems and facilities for processing hydrocarbons and producing liquefied natural gas; supply of pipes and equipment for the oil and gas sector; construction of oil refineries; distribution and sale of petroleum products; scientific and technical cooperation in the field of processing and transportation of hydrocarbons, environmental protection.

It should be noted that Russian specialists have gained considerable experience in the construction of oil and gas pipelines in subtropical conditions. In Nigeria, we have seen the difficult conditions in which they built an oil pipeline with a length of more than 900 km in the swampy area along the coast of the Gulf of Guinea. At the same time, the construction was completed in a short time and at a high technical level.

In the field of industry, the parties expressed mutual interest in the production of Russian tractors in Nigeria, in promoting small and medium-duty passenger cars and trucks produced at the Gorky Automobile Plant in the Nigerian market. Russian companies are ready to offer their services for reactivation, start - up and operation of the Adzhaokut metallurgical plant. The parties expressed interest in developing cooperation in the field of civil aviation technology.

A wide range of cooperation is offered by the Russian side in the field of mineral extraction: geological and economic assessment of the mineral resource potential of Nigeria, taking into account the possibility of using new technologies for mining, processing and processing of mineral raw materials; search, exploration and development of mineral resources in Nigeria; design and construction of mining and processing plants; creation of a joint venture for the development of tantalum and niobium deposits gold, tin, oil and gas; supply of mining, mining, bulldozer, automobile and drilling equipment, etc.

A wide range of cooperation is also offered by the Russian side in the field of water management construction and water supply: design, construction, reconstruction and operation of water management facilities (irrigation systems, dams, pumping stations, etc.); drilling of new and restoration of old water wells, supply of drilling equipment; drinking and industrial water supply by means of installations of various capacities, sewage treatment urban effluents; remote monitoring and search of fresh ground water in arid areas of Northern Nigeria; creation and implementation of drinking and industrial water supply programs, etc.

In the field of transport, Russian organizations and companies are interested in cooperation in such areas as railway construction, transport development of the Niger River, dredging operations, and cleaning of seaports.

In the field of scientific and technical cooperation, Russian organizations have the opportunity to develop cooperation with interested Nigerian scientific organizations in the field of fundamental sciences, genetic engineering, remote sensing of the Earth, new materials, information technologies, and training of researchers in Russian research centers.

The parties expressed mutual interest in developing cooperation in the field of space tools and technologies in the following priority areas: development and development of the national satellite telecommunications system of Nigeria, creation on the Nigerian territory of a complex of technical means for receiving, processing and archiving space information of remote sensing of the Earth and providing relevant services (personnel training, warranty service, etc.); development, creation and use of alternative energy sources based on the use of modern space technologies (solar panels and wind-diesel-electric installations); study of the possibility of providing the Nigerian side with services for launching Nigerian spacecraft with Russian launch vehicles.

The Russian side is ready to expand cooperation with the Nigerian side in the field of healthcare in the following areas: sending doctors of various specialties to work in public and private Nigerian medical institutions; sending teachers to work in medical faculties of Nigerian universities; supply of medicines and medical equipment manufactured in Russia.

During the first meeting of the Commission, working groups were formed on trade, economic and technical cooperation, geology and natural resources, energy and interbank cooperation.

The second meeting of the Commission is scheduled to be held in Abuja, Nigeria, later this year.

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