In conjunction with Nigeria's declaration of independence on 1 October 1960, Swedish Foreign Minister Östen Undén sent a congratulatory telegram to Nigerian Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, stating that the Swedish government recognized Nigeria as a sovereign and independent state.

Undén expressed the Swedish government's desire to maintain friendly and cordial relations with Nigeria.

Love Kellberg [sv], the head of a department in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, was appointed as Sweden's first ambassador to Nigeria.

[3] In January 1962, Kellberg, who was also accredited as ambassador to Porto-Novo in the Republic of Dahomey, presented his credentials to President Hubert Maga, along with a gift from the King of Sweden.

[4] Sweden's ambassador to Nigeria has, at various times, also been accredited to neighboring countries such as Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Niger, and Togo.