His Excellency Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of the Republic of India paid a State visit to Abuja, Nigeria on November 16-17, 2024 at the invitation of His Excellency Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Upon his arrival in Abuja, Nigeria, Shri Narendra Modi was welcomed by Mr Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and Ms. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During his visit Prime Minister held intensive and fruitful discussions with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and received the country’s highest national honour the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON)
The leaders underscored the long standing cordial relations between Nigeria and India linked by common historical experiences. In recent years, India-Nigeria ties have evolved into a “Strategic Partnership” with sound political understanding, diversified economic engagement, intensifying technical cooperation, close people to people contact as well as deepening relations in the fields of Science and Technology, Education, Trade, Agriculture, Defence, Space, Cyber Security, Energy, FinTech, Healthcare, Capacity Building, Training, and concessional Lines of Credit. Both sides agreed to continue strengthening their historical and strategic bilateral relations.
The leaders acknowledged that India and Nigeria share a vibrant economic partnership in the area of trade and investment that made India one of the largest trading partners of Nigeria and Nigeria as India’s largest trading partner in Africa. The Nigerian side appreciated the contribution made by over 200 Indian companies to the economy of Nigeria led to the creation of job opportunities.
Both sides affirmed the need to harness the potential of bilateral trade and towards this end, directed the officials to explore new areas to further enhance bilateral trade volumes through organizing visits of business delegations, exhibitions and interaction with business communities.
Both sides agreed to encourage early conclusion of three pending bilateral trade agreements i.e. Economic Cooperation Agreement (ECA), Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) and Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) to encourage further investments. They noted with satisfaction the fructification of some of the investments agreed to by the Indian companies, during the visit of President Tinubu to India in September 2023, and committed to facilitate early finalization of the remaining investments.
Both sides acknowledged the role played by Indian LoCs in infrastructural development in some parts of Nigeria. They also agreed to further expand this cooperation. The Indian side assured its commitment to continue its support to the growth and development of Nigeria, based on Nigerian priorities.
Indian side noted that Nigeria is an important partner in India’s capacity building programme through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) and the Indian Council for Cultural Relation (ICCR) programs. Both sides agreed to work together to encourage more Nigerian officials and nationals to avail themselves of these technical and academic programmes.
Nigerian side noted with satisfaction the increased specialized training programs for capacity building offered by India in various areas like health, law enforcement, space etc. The Indian side would further consider the request to organize specialized training programs for Nigerian candidates in other priority areas identified by Nigeria.
Both sides expressed satisfaction of the regular visits by Indian Naval Ships and their joint anti-piracy operations and exercises undertaken in the Gulf of Guinea and resolved to continue this cooperation through holding regular maritime exercises between the two navies.
Both sides noted with satisfaction the setting up of Indian hospitals in Nigeria and recognized that the potentials for collaboration in healthcare including setting up of hospitals and diagnostic centers is enormous.
Indian side offered to share COWIN, an open-source digital infrastructure created by India for health management including vaccination. Nigerian side noted the offer of the Indian side for supplying quality generic pharmaceutical products at economical rates for the welfare of vulnerable sections to Nigeria under the Indian generic medicine scheme – Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) for the Nigerian public hospital procurement.
Both leaders recognized the importance of strong people-to-people contacts, cultural exchanges, academic linkages and tourism between the two countries. The two sides applauded the existing cultural exchanges between two countries including visits by cultural troupes, participation in film festivals, literary festivals and encouraged further widening of cultural exchanges between the two countries.
Both sides acknowledged the scope for collaboration between ECOWAS with India, including in the area of trade and economic cooperation. The conclusion of AfCFTA, provided greater opportunity for Indian businesses to invest in Africa in general and ECOWAS region in particular. Both sides committed to leverage the opportunity to enhance trade and investment between India and ECOWAS region.
Both sides welcomed the permanent membership of African Union (AU) in G20 and Nigerian side appreciated India’s efforts in this process. They noted that India’s G20 presidency consolidated the priorities of the countries of the Global South on the prime platform for international economic and financial cooperation.
The Nigerian side described the visit as a landmark in Nigeria India bilateral relations, which will further bolster the Strategic Partnership between the two countries. Indian side expressed their appreciation to the government and people of Nigeria for their warm welcome and hospitality received. Both sides affirmed their readiness to implement the decisions arrived at, with a view to further improving the economic, commercial, political, cultural cooperation and people to people contact between the two countries.