Iranian Vice President for Economic Affairs Mohammad Nahavandian and Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari agreed on Friday to set up a binational commission to promote trade, investment, agriculture, and technology transfer, according to local media.

Iran Press/Africa: Speaking at a bilateral meeting held on the sidelines of the 5th Summit of Gas Exporting Countries Forum in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, Nahavandian said that Nigeria and Iran can cooperate extensively and added, “A lot can be done. We can do miracles. We have the vision.” .

He suggested four major areas of economic cooperation: petrochemical, power, irrigation agriculture and industry.

Citing the routing of ISIS in Iraq and Syria as a major contribution to the global anti-terrorism efforts, the Iranian vice-president also offered cooperation in counter-terrorism.

Buhari, on his part, said he was impressed with the speed in transformation of Iranian oil and gas industry from what it used to be when he served as Nigeria’s petroleum minister in the 1970s, reports said.

“I will work very hard towards the joint commission … In particular, we are interested in how you utilized your gas, with 95 percent of your national population wired to gas. The evolution of our gas industry is too slow … I am very impressed.”

Buhari also commended the Iranian defeat of ISIS in Iraq and Syria, saying the dispossession of the terrorists of their oil wells meant that they had lost access to resources used in supporting Boko Haram in Lake Chad sub-region.

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