Modi receives Nigeria’s second-highest national award: ‘We give high priority to our strategic ties’

In his televised opening remarks at the meeting, PM Modi said, “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.” He identified terrorism, separatism, piracy and drug trafficking as major challenges and said “the two countries have worked together to deal with them and will continue to do so”.

The PM is in Nigeria on the first leg of his three-nation visit at the invitation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This visit is the first by an Indian PM to Nigeria in 17 years.

Modi held talks with President Tinubu on Sunday, and said that 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.

President Tinubu appreciated the development cooperation partnership offered by India and its meaningful impact in creating local capacities, skills, and professional expertise. The two leaders also discussed enhancing defence and security cooperation. They reaffirmed their commitment to jointly fighting terrorism, piracy and radicalisation, said an MEA statement Sunday.

Referring to the African Union becoming a permanent member of the G20 at the India-hosted summit last year, Modi described it as a significant outcome. “Nigeria has had a huge and positive role in Africa. And, close cooperation with Africa has been a high priority for India,” the PM said in a post on X.

Following the meeting, Modi said, “Had a very productive discussion with President Tinubu. We talked about adding momentum to our strategic partnership. There is immense scope for ties to flourish even further in sectors like defence, energy, technology, trade, health, education and more.”

On Sunday, 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. Earlier in the day, he posted on X a letter sent by the Maharashtrian community in Nigeria expressing happiness for giving Marathi the classical language status.

Before the delegation-level talks, Modi and Tinubu held a one-on-one meeting at the Presidential Villa. Following the talks, three MoUs — on Cultural Exchange Programme, Customs Cooperation and Survey Cooperation — were signed. The PM also announced that India is sending 20 tonnes of relief supplies for Nigerian people hit by floods last month.

There are more than 200 Indian companies who have invested about $27 billion in all important manufacturing sectors and these companies are the second-largest employers after the federal government, according to Indian officials.

On his arrival in Nigeria Sunday, Modi was welcomed by Minister for Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, who presented him with the ‘Key to the City’ of Abuja. “The key symbolises the trust and honour bestowed on the Prime Minister by the people of Nigeria,” the MEA said in a post on X.

India has emerged as a development partner of Nigeria on two fronts — by offering developmental assistance through concessional loans ($100 million) and by offering capacity-building training programmes.

In the run-up to Modi’s Nigeria visit, NSA Ajit Doval hosted his Nigerian counterpart Nuhu Ribadu last month, for the Second Strategic and Counter-Terrorism Dialogue between the two countries. “The national security advisors held in-depth discussions within the framework of the strategic India-Nigeria partnership on threats and challenges emanating from terrorism, extremism, radicalisation, including through cyberspace, as well as from international crime, arms and drug smuggling,” said the MEA statement.

From Abuja, Modi will travel to Brazil to attend the G20 Summit. His last destination will be Guyana.