Spain says bilateral relations with Nigeria continue to improve, with prospects for stronger cooperation in trade, investment and other areas of mutual interest.

Spain’s ambassador to Nigeria, Félix Artieda, stated this on Monday at the country’s National Day celebration in Abuja, which brought together diplomats, business leaders and media practitioners.

The event also provided a platform for networking and building professional relationships among participants.

“2026 has been a good year for Spain, a good year for bilateral relations between Spain and Nigeria,” Mr Artieda said.

He noted that Spain’s economy had continued to perform above the European Union average, while employment in the country had reached an all-time high.

On tourism, the ambassador said that Spain remained an attractive destination, with the country expecting to receive 100 million visitors in 2026. He attributed Spain’s international appeal partly to its rich cultural heritage and contributions to fashion, cinema and sports.

On global affairs, Mr Artieda said Spain remained committed to promoting peace and effective multilateralism amid increasing political divisions and demands for greater accountability in its domestic politics.

The ambassador also expressed hope that the forthcoming elections in Spain and Nigeria would be peaceful. He said Spain’s elections were scheduled for November 29, 2026, while Nigeria’s were expected to be held on January 16, 2027.

Mr Artieda described Nigeria’s electoral process as important to the country’s neighbours and the African continent, given the large number of eligible voters.

“I think that it is a very important event for the rest of your neighbours and for the African continent at large. So, we just hope that all this process goes smoothly,” he said.

He also recognised the contributions of the Spanish community in Nigeria and commended the embassy staff for their commitment to strengthening Spain’s diplomatic presence in the country.

Spain celebrates its National Day annually on October 12 to commemorate the arrival of Christopher Columbus’s in the Americas in 1492. The event marked a turning point in relations between Europe and the Americas and ushered in a period of global exchange.

The day also celebrates Spain’s cultural heritage and the global spread of the Spanish language, which is spoken by hundreds of millions of people worldwide.

In Nigeria, the celebration serves as an avenue to promote cultural exchange and strengthen cooperation between the two countries in trade, investment, education, and tourism. The event concluded with a toast to the prosperity of Spain, Nigeria and other countries represented at the celebration.

“To the happiness and prosperity of Spain and Nigeria. Of course, all of your countries, because we are a big family,” Mr Artieda said.

(NAN)