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Russia is preparing to launch a new shipping line focused on exporting agricultural goods—including grain allegedly seized from occupied Ukrainian territories—to Africa. This initiative is part of Moscow’s broader strategy to deepen economic and political ties with Nigeria and other African nations.
A key element of this plan is the establishment of a regular maritime route connecting Novorossiysk, a major Russian Black Sea port, to Lagos, Nigeria. The route will facilitate the export of Russian agricultural products, machinery, and transport equipment. A similar route is also being developed between Novorossiysk and Dakar, Senegal, to support raw material exports from Mali.
The shipping service, operated by Russia’s A7 African Cargo Line, is set to begin in mid-June 2025 using two 700-TEU container ships. Future expansions are planned, particularly targeting West Africa.
According to Russia’s Trade Representative to Nigeria, Maxim Petrov, the route is expected to boost Russian exports to Nigeria while enabling imports of key regional commodities such as Malian cotton, which has an annual yield exceeding 650,000 tons.
Alongside economic ties, military cooperation between Russia and Nigeria is also strengthening. In March 2025, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-bek Yevkurov met with Nigeria’s Chief of Defense Staff, General Christopher Musa, to discuss expanding bilateral military cooperation, originally formalised in a 2021 agreement for training, equipment, and logistical support.
In February 2025, Russia added Nigeria, Tunisia, and Ethiopia to the list of African countries eligible for currency trading within its banking system, bringing the total to seven. Previously included nations (since 2023) were Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa.
This move aligns with Nigeria’s admission as a partner nation in BRICS in January 2025, making it the second African country, after South Africa, to join the group. Collectively, these developments mark a rapid transformation in Russia–Nigeria relations, shifting from diplomatic gestures to concrete cooperation.
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However, Russia’s role in grain exports remains controversial. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Kyiv has accused Moscow of illegally exporting at least 4 million tons of grain from occupied territories as of 2023. Before the invasion in February 2022, Ukraine exported around 6 million tons of grain monthly via Black Sea ports. In 2024, Ukraine managed to export 47.6 million tons overall, a 30% increase over 2023 levels.
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