Nigeria and Rwanda have maintained warm and cordial relations since Rwanda’s independence in 1962, they have supported each other in bilateral and multilateral forums to which they both belong, notably the United Nations, African Union and Commonwealth of Nations.
There are various agreements between both countries at various levels of implementation, including the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA), and Technical Aids Corps (TAC) which are both fully implemented. Under the TAC scheme, many sets of volunteers have been deployed to Rwanda since the agreement was signed in 2001, while the BASA has enabled the operation of multiple Rwandair flights per week to Abuja and Lagos. The Military and Police Training Agreement has also been implemented between both countries and many senior Rwandan military officers; including the immediate past Chief of Rwandan Defence Force, General Patrick Nyavumba, have received training at the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy.
On trade relations, there is a significant presence of Nigerian businesses operating in Rwanda, notably Access Bank and Guaranty Trust Bank in the finance sector.
The relations between both countries have also been consolidated with the exchange of high-level visits. In September 2010, President Ebele Jonathan attended President Kagame’s inauguration and also paid a two-day State Visit to Rwanda a year later. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo attended the third term inauguration of President Paul Kagame in August 2017. On his part, President Paul Kagame attended President Jonathan’s inauguration in May 2011 and paid a two-day State Visit to Nigeria in June 2019.