Nigeria and Switzerland enjoy good and diverse bilateral relations, particularly in the areas of trade, migration, peace promotion and humanitarian aid.
Bilateral Relations Switzerland–Nigeria
Key aspects of diplomatic relations
As part of its Africa Strategy 2025–2028, Switzerland maintains close relations with Nigeria, its sixth-largest trading partner in Africa and its main supplier of crude oil since 2015. Bilateral relations cover economic cooperation, migration issues, humanitarian aid, human rights and peace promotion. These topics are discussed at high-level meetings, as well as during political consultations and regular dialogues on migration and human rights.
Africa Strategy 2025-2028 (PDF, 40 Pages, 3.8 MB, English)
Economic cooperation
Nigeria is a major trading partner for Switzerland in Africa. While Nigeria exports mainly crude oil to Switzerland, Switzerland's main exports to Nigeria are pharmaceuticals and machinery. Switzerland has a large negative trade balance with Nigeria due to oil imports.
More than 50 Swiss companies operate in Nigeria, in various sectors.
Switzerland opened a consulate general in Lagos in 2016, which serves as a key point of contact for trade relations.
Information on countries, State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO
Cooperation on migration
Switzerland and Nigeria's close cooperation on migration issues is based on a partnership agreement signed in 2011. As part of this partnership, Switzerland supports voluntary returns via return assistance, as well as projects related to human trafficking, migration management and development. The two countries meet regularly to continue the dialogue. Within this partnership, Switzerland also seeks to strengthen employability and professional skills by supporting institutions offering employment and training services.
Cooperation in education, research and innovation
Switzerland is active in the area of vocational training in Nigeria. Researchers who are citizens of Nigeria can apply to the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships.
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists (SERI)
Peace promotion and human rights
Since 2011, Switzerland and Nigeria have been conducting regular bilateral dialogues on human rights and peace promotion, accompanied by concrete projects.
Switzerland's engagement focuses on north-east Nigeria and includes the provision of good offices, dealing with the past, and preventing religious extremism through community dialogue, training, the dissemination of alternative narratives, and a rehabilitation programme for women and children connected with former combatants. Switzerland also promotes peaceful elections by supporting institutions and civil society organisations in mediation, monitoring and the resolution of electoral conflicts.
Development cooperation and humanitarian aid
Since 2014, Switzerland has been providing humanitarian aid to the population affected by the armed conflict in the Lake Chad region, with efforts focused on food security and the protection of civilians. In response to the protracted crisis in the north-east of the country, Switzerland is supporting local initiatives to find durable solutions for internally displaced persons and is actively promoting a humanitarian response led by local players.
Swiss Humanitarian Engagement in Nigeria 2024–2026 (PDF, 2 Pages, 245.0 kB, English)
Swiss citizens in Nigeria
According to statistics on the Swiss abroad, 271 Swiss citizens were living in Nigeria at the end of 2024 and 2,531 Nigerian citizens were living in Switzerland.
History of bilateral relations
Switzerland recognised the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 1 October 1960, the day the country declared its independence from the United Kingdom. Shortly thereafter, the two countries established diplomatic relations. Switzerland opened an embassy in Lagos a year later.
In 2001, Switzerland moved its embassy to the new capital, Abuja. In 2016, it opened a consulate general in Lagos. Nigeria has had an embassy in Bern since 1966.
