India Prioritises Strategic Partnership with Nigeria, PM Modi Says During Landmark Visit

Abuja: India values its strong partnership with Nigeria and aims to strengthen cooperation in areas like defence, energy, and trade, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said this during his talks with Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday. In his televised opening remarks at the meeting, PM 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.#WATCH | Abuja, Nigeria: Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "...As it was said right now, an Indian PM is visiting here after 17 years. It is a matter of great joy for me that right at the beginning of my third tenure, I received the opportunity to visit Nigeria..." pic.twitter.com/z5VX8ZcCuV— ANI (@ANI) November 17, 2024 Historic Visit Marks a New Chapter in India-Nigeria RelationsPM Modi arrived in Abuja early Sunday on the first trip to the country by an Indian prime minister after a gap of 17 years. "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 prime minister said.#WATCH | Abuja, Nigeria: Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "I express gratitude for your personal commitment to strengthening strategic relations between India and Nigeria. I am happy that last year, under the chairmanship of India, Nigeria joined G20 Summit for the first time… pic.twitter.com/s8AHKTogfT— ANI (@ANI) November 17, 2024 Indian Diaspora: A Pillar of Bilateral RelationsThe Prime Minister also described the around 60,000-strong Indian expatriate community as a key pillar of India-Nigeria relations and thanked Nigerian President Tinubu for ensuring their welfare.Relief Aid for Flood VictimsPM Modi also announced that India is sending 20 tonnes of relief supplies for Nigerian people hit by last month's floods.#WATCH | Abuja, Nigeria: Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "We give high priority to our strategic partnership with Nigeria. We have strong cooperation in several sectors like defence, energy, financial issues, technology, health, education, and culture. Several new… pic.twitter.com/80RsoCxJ90— ANI (@ANI) November 17, 2024 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.Bilateral Talks and Ceremonial WelcomeBefore the delegation-level talks, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nigerian President Tinubu held one-on-one meeting at the Presidential Villa.The prime minister was also accorded a ceremonial welcome.Both sides are likely to ink a number of agreements following the delegation-level talks.PM Modi is in Nigeria as part of a three-nation tour. From Abuja, he will travel to Brazil to attend the G20 summit. His last destination will be Guyana.Economic Ties Strengthened Over Six DecadesThe India-Nigeria ties were elevated to the status of a "strategic partnership' during then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to the African nation in October 2007.Nigeria has been a close partner of India for over six decades.New Delhi established its diplomatic House in Lagos in November 1958, two years before Nigeria became independent in 1960.The presence of a large Indian expatriate community of about 60,000, the largest in West Africa, adds value to the importance of the long-standing relationship between the two countries.India’s Role as a Development PartnerThere are more than 200 Indian companies who have invested about USD 27 billion in all important manufacturing sectors and these companies are the second largest employers after the federal government, according to Indian officials.India has emerged as a development partner of Nigeria on two fronts by offering developmental assistance through concessional loans (USD 100 million) and by offering capacity-building training programmes.

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India Prioritises Strategic Partnership with Nigeria, PM Modi Says During Landmark Visit

India accords high priority to its strategic partnership with Nigeria and it will work towards boosting ties in a range of areas, including defence and energy.

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