Deputy Foreign Minister Lê Anh Tuấn’s Abuja mission signals Hanoi’s ambition to turn Nigeria into a gateway for African market access, as bilateral trade crosses the $1 billion threshold.
In a significant move to expand its diplomatic and economic footprint on the African continent, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Lê Anh Tuấn concluded a working visit to Abuja, holding high-level talks with Nigerian officials and visiting the headquarters of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The trip comes at a pivotal moment: Vietnam and Nigeria are celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations established in 1976, and their bilateral trade has grown past the $1 billion mark for the first time.
During the two-day visit, Tuấn met with Permanent Secretary of the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dunoma Umar Ahmed, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sola Enikanolaiye, and Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment Chris Osa Isokpunwu. He also held a working session with President of the ECOWAS Commission Omar Alieu Touray.
The discussions centred on transforming a historically cordial relationship into a substantive economic partnership. Both sides welcomed the progress made over nearly five decades of diplomatic ties, noting in particular that Nigeria has become Vietnam’s third-largest trade partner in Africa. Two-way trade reached approximately $1.1 billion in 2025, a fourfold increase from roughly $250 million in 2015.
According to trade data and statements from the Vietnamese Embassy in Abuja, the current trade flow reflects a clear division of labour: Nigeria exports crude oil, liquefied natural gas, raw cashew nuts, and agricultural products to Vietnam, while Vietnam ships textiles, footwear, plastic materials, telecommunications equipment, machinery, vehicles, and pharmaceuticals to Nigeria.
Notably, Vietnam maintains a trade deficit of approximately $240 million with Nigeria, importing $380 million worth of Nigerian goods while exporting $140 million in 2024, according to OEC data. This imbalance was a key topic during Tuấn’s meetings. Nigerian officials expressed interest in attracting Vietnamese investment to boost local manufacturing capacity, add value to natural resources, and ultimately expand Nigeria’s export portfolio beyond raw commodities.
To institutionalise the relationship, both sides agreed on several concrete measures:
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