New Delhi: India accords high priority to its strategic partnership with Nigeria and it will work towards boosting ties in a range of areas, including defence, energy and trade, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday during his talks with Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In his opening remarks at the meeting in Abuja, Modi identified terrorism, separatism, piracy and drug trafficking as major challenges and said the two countries will continue to work together to deal with them.
"We give high priority to our strategic partnership with Nigeria...I am confident that a new chapter in our ties will begin following our talks," the PM said. Modi also described the around 60,000-strong Indian expatriate community as a key pillar of India-Nigeria relations and thanked Tinubu for ensuring their welfare.
A number of MoUs, including in the field of customs were signed on the occasion.
Modi arrived in Abuja early Sunday on the first trip to the country by an Indian PM after a gap of 17 years. The PM also announced that India is sending 20 tonnes of relief supplies for Nigerian people hit by last month's floods.
He also referred to the African Union becoming a permanent member of the G20 at the India-hosted summit of the grouping last year and described it as a significant outcome.
Nigeria honoured PM Narendra Modi with the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger. This made Modi the second foreign dignitary to receive this honour. Queen Elizabeth is the only other foreign dignitary who was awarded the GCON, in 1969. This will be the 17th such international award conferred to Modi by a country. Tinubu emphasised that the honour is "to signify our appreciation of India as Nigeria's partner."
Nigeria, one of Africa’s largest economies, has shared a strong and cordial relationship with India since gaining independence in 1960. The partnership is rooted in shared values of democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, and diversity. India purchases crude from Nigeria and defence ties have expanded to include defence industry partnership.
“Both nations are multi-religious, multi-ethnic, and multi-linguistic. In recent years, Nigeria’s active role in the African Union and its partnership with India in the India-Africa Forum Summit have strengthened this bond. Nigeria is also a BRICS partner country and currently chairs the ECOWAS region,” stated Dammu Ravi, Secretary for Economic Relations at the Ministry of External Affairs, ahead of the visit.
India has extended $400 million in development assistance to Nigeria, with $100 million utilized for projects, primarily in the power sector. The remaining $290 million is being repurposed for other initiatives. Additionally, India offers 500 ITEC scholarships annually to Nigeria, 250 each for civilian and defense personnel. Since the 1960s, India has trained approximately 27,500 Nigerian experts.
India’s involvement in Nigeria spans decades. “Indian teachers have educated generations in Nigeria. Defense cooperation is robust, with Indian military officers aiding the establishment of institutions like the National Defence Academy and the National War College,” Ravi noted.
The Indian diaspora in Nigeria is about 60,000 strong, making it the largest in West Africa. People-to-people connections remain vibrant, alongside robust bilateral trade, estimated at nearly $15 billion, primarily driven by oil imports. Indian companies have invested $27 billion cumulatively in Nigeria, with 200 companies providing substantial employment, ranking as the second-largest job providers in the country.
In his opening remarks at the meeting in Abuja, Modi identified terrorism, separatism, piracy and drug trafficking as major challenges and said the two countries will continue to work together to deal with them.
"We give high priority to our strategic partnership with Nigeria...I am confident that a new chapter in our ties will begin following our talks," the PM said. Modi also described the around 60,000-strong Indian expatriate community as a key pillar of India-Nigeria relations and thanked Tinubu for ensuring their welfare.
A number of MoUs, including in the field of customs were signed on the occasion.
Modi arrived in Abuja early Sunday on the first trip to the country by an Indian PM after a gap of 17 years. The PM also announced that India is sending 20 tonnes of relief supplies for Nigerian people hit by last month's floods.
He also referred to the African Union becoming a permanent member of the G20 at the India-hosted summit of the grouping last year and described it as a significant outcome.
Nigeria honoured PM Narendra Modi with the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger. This made Modi the second foreign dignitary to receive this honour. Queen Elizabeth is the only other foreign dignitary who was awarded the GCON, in 1969. This will be the 17th such international award conferred to Modi by a country. Tinubu emphasised that the honour is "to signify our appreciation of India as Nigeria's partner."
Nigeria, one of Africa’s largest economies, has shared a strong and cordial relationship with India since gaining independence in 1960. The partnership is rooted in shared values of democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, and diversity. India purchases crude from Nigeria and defence ties have expanded to include defence industry partnership.
“Both nations are multi-religious, multi-ethnic, and multi-linguistic. In recent years, Nigeria’s active role in the African Union and its partnership with India in the India-Africa Forum Summit have strengthened this bond. Nigeria is also a BRICS partner country and currently chairs the ECOWAS region,” stated Dammu Ravi, Secretary for Economic Relations at the Ministry of External Affairs, ahead of the visit.
India has extended $400 million in development assistance to Nigeria, with $100 million utilized for projects, primarily in the power sector. The remaining $290 million is being repurposed for other initiatives. Additionally, India offers 500 ITEC scholarships annually to Nigeria, 250 each for civilian and defense personnel. Since the 1960s, India has trained approximately 27,500 Nigerian experts.
India’s involvement in Nigeria spans decades. “Indian teachers have educated generations in Nigeria. Defense cooperation is robust, with Indian military officers aiding the establishment of institutions like the National Defence Academy and the National War College,” Ravi noted.
The Indian diaspora in Nigeria is about 60,000 strong, making it the largest in West Africa. People-to-people connections remain vibrant, alongside robust bilateral trade, estimated at nearly $15 billion, primarily driven by oil imports. Indian companies have invested $27 billion cumulatively in Nigeria, with 200 companies providing substantial employment, ranking as the second-largest job providers in the country.
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