President Vladimir Putin of Russia on Thursday pledged closer ties with
Nigeria and other African countries, assuring leaders in the continent that
the European country was ready to partner African states to develop their
energy, Information Communication, education and health sectors, among
others.
This came as Vice President Kashim Shettima said Nigeria would partner with
Russia to revive the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria, particularly by
engaging with key stakeholders in the industry.⁣
They both spoke at the ongoing Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian
Forum held at ongoing Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg, Russia.
The summit is being attended by several African heads of states including
Shettima who represented President Bola Tinubu, and President Emmerson
Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe.
Shettima is attending the summit with a team of Nigerian delegation.
Other officials at the forum were Nigeria’s Ambassador to Russia, Shehu
Abdullahi; Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany, Yusuf Tugar; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Gabriel Aduda; Permanent

Secretary, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Mary Ogbe, and Chief

Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory

Commission, Mr Gbenga Komolafe, among others.⁣

“The sooner we get this plant back to production, the better for everyone. We

need to walk the talk; the Nigerian people deserve better,” Shettima said at a

meeting with the management of Russian Aluminium Company, UC RUSAL,

and other stakeholders in the project on the sideline of the summit.

Meanwhile, Putin noted in his opening remarks that the potential for trade

and economic cooperation between Russia and African countries was much

higher than the trade turnover of $18bn seen in 2022.⁣

He restated his country’s commitment to food security in Africa and beyond,

stressing that “Russia will continue to work towards shaping a more

equitable global food distribution system.