Kayode Sesan
Nigeria can be the center of regional cooperation in Africa, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Monday.
Zarif made the remarks in a meeting with his visiting Nigerian counterpart Geoffrey Onyeama.
Zarif described the trade and banking prospect in post-sanctions era as good, saying Africa can be the center of regional cooperation.
Iran and Nigeria can improve their technological, scientific and economic capacities within the framework of regional and bilateral cooperation, said Zarif.
There are enormous opportunities for Iranian and Nigerian businesspersons and entrepreneurs. who should try to expand bilateral ties, noted Zarif.
Referring to the threats resulted from terrorist groups of Daesh, Boko Haram and Al Shabaab, Zarif said there is no link between the extremists’ approach and Shia and Sunni lessons.
According to the Islamic Republic News Agency, the Nigerian Foreign Affairs minister Geoffrey Onyeama described Iran as a great country.
Onyeama said Nigeria is willing to deepen ties with Iran.
He said Abuja is ready to identify new grounds for further bilateral relations with Tehran.
The Nigerian foreign minister planned a Tehran visit to attend the ministerial meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) that was held in Saturday and Sunday.
The summit meeting of the GECF is being held in Tehran this afternoon with participation of the seven world president including the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and the Algerian prime minister.
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