Nigeria–Yugoslavia relations were historical foreign relations between
Nigeria and the
formerSocialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Formal diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1960 after the independence of Nigeria earlier that year.[1] Both countries were members of the
Non-Aligned Movement and they developed their relations in the framework of the
Cold WarThird World cooperation. Yugoslavia was one of the founding members of the movement while Belgrade believed that the reason why Nigeria did not participate in the
1st Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement as one of the founding members was the result of discouragement by the
United States as the decision was announced during the prime minister's visit to
Washington, D.C.[2] During the existence of socialist Yugoslavia, both countries were organized as multi-ethnic
federal states.
Two countries worked on the development of cultural, scientific and economic cooperation. Yugoslav construction companies were prominently engaged for the construction of the
Lagos International Trade Fair as well as the old Parliament House building in Lagos.[3][4]