Nigeria and Australia are seeking to deepen parliamentary diplomacy and economic cooperation, particularly in Nigeria’s mining sector, as both countries move to strengthen bilateral relations.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Sola Enikanolaiye, made the call when he received the Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives, Milton Dick MP, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja.
Enikanolaiye commended the Australian Speaker for his visit, noting that geographical distance could not hinder engagement between both countries given their strong will, clear vision and shared commitment to taking bilateral relations to higher levels.
The Minister of State acknowledged Australia’s historic support for Nigeria’s pro-democracy struggle under the Commonwealth during the period of military rule.
He also thanked Australia for accepting Nigeria’s High Commissioner, Amb. Femi Pedro, who presented his Letters of Credence about a month ago, saying the development would facilitate robust communication and exchanges between both countries.
Turning to economic relations, Enikanolaiye called for the translation of the cordial ties between Nigeria and Australia into structured economic partnerships capable of delivering tangible and mutually beneficial benefits.
He identified critical minerals as an area with huge prospects for cooperation, with Nigeria particularly interested in technology transfer, value addition and beneficiation.
The Minister of State also highlighted opportunities in livestock development and agriculture, pointing to Australia’s expertise in agro-processing and export-oriented livestock production as a valuable basis for cooperation.
On parliamentary diplomacy, Enikanolaiye described it as a vital aspect of people-to-people ties and an important framework for advancing the interests and aspirations of Nigerians.
He maintained that beyond traditional diplomacy within the mandate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, parliamentary diplomacy could further advance relations between Nigeria and Australia.
Speaking earlier in the meeting, Speaker Milton Dick described his visit to Nigeria as both a personal and institutional privilege.
Dick recognised Nigeria as an emerging economic powerhouse and Africa’s most populous country, noting its tremendous progress in economic transformation.
He observed that Australia and Nigeria shared common ground in their parliamentary frameworks, commitment to democracy and diversity.
The Speaker also highlighted existing cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including climate adaptation and food security.
Dick informed the meeting of the Nigerian Parliamentary Friendship Group established to deepen legislative cooperation and expand institutional exchanges between both countries.
He described the Nigerian community in Australia as a respected group contributing immensely to the development of the country, while underscoring the importance of education in strengthening people-to-people relations, promoting understanding and deepening cultural ties.
The Australian Speaker further emphasised that expanding the current scope of economic cooperation, particularly through mutually beneficial partnerships in Nigeria’s mining sector, would strengthen bilateral relations.
The discussions also covered climate action, conflict resolution and prevention, as well as the challenge of internally displaced persons.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both countries expressed confidence that stronger collaboration would advance shared aspirations and mutual prosperity, with the visit reinforcing the shared conviction that both countries could build a more forward-looking partnership anchored on mutual respect, shared interests and international cooperation.
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