Malaysia–Nigeria relations refers tobilateralforeign relations betweenMalaysia andNigeria. Malaysia has a high commission inAbuja,[1] and Nigeria has a high commission inKuala Lumpur.[2] Both are the members ofD-8 and have been diplomatic friends since early 1965 when the late AlhajiAbubakar Tafawa Balewa, Nigeria's first Prime Minister, became a good friend of one of Malaysia's post-independence leaders,Tunku Abdul Rahman. Their relations are based on economic co-operation.[3]
A Nigeria-Malaysia Business Council is existed between the countries.[4] In 2015, the trade value between the two stood at $766.8 million with Malaysia's main export to Nigeria comprising petroleum products, palm oil and palm based products, machineries and processed food while Nigeria's main export to Malaysia wasliquefied natural gas, iron ore, metal scrap and agricultural goods.[5] Nigeria emerged as Malaysia's second largest trading partner among African countries, afterSouth Africa.[6] Around 456 Nigerian officials also benefited from various capacity building programmes under the Malaysia Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP),[7] and Nigeria has become the largest source of African students in Malaysia.[6]
