By Joy Odor
The India Prime Minister Narendra Modi has on Sunday accorded high priority to its strategic partnership with Nigeria President Bola Tinubu in areas of defense, trade, energy, and counter-terrorism with a commitment to global development
PM Modi made the commitment to Tinubu while briefing newsmen at a press conference, in Abuja shortly after meeting with President Tinubu at House in Abuja on wide-ranging talks on shoring up bilateral cooperation in different sectors.
PM Modi who was represented by Dammu Ravi, the Secretary (Economic Relations) of the Republic of India in the press conference offered India’s experience in agriculture, transportation, affordable medicine, renewable energy, and digital transformation to Nigeria.
He also disclosed that India-Nigeria have worked together to tackle challenges such as terrorism, separatism, piracy and drug trafficking and will continue doing so with greater strength in the future.
The PM Modi affirmed the cooperation between India and Nigeria for the full membership of the African Union in the G20, saying Nigeria’s new role as a partner country in Brics reflects its importance on the world stage.
According to him, both leaders pledged greater collaboration in maritime security and intelligence sharing to cope with growing threats in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Guinea, one of the world’s most dangerous for piracy.
He explained that India is sending 20 tonnes of relief supplies for Nigerian people hit by last month’s floods as both leaders reviewed the ongoing bilateral cooperation and discussed ways to further strengthen India-Nigeria strategic partnership.
Commenting on Nigeria’s membership of the International Solar Alliance and the International Big Cat Alliance, PM Modi invited President Tinubu to join other pro-planet green initiatives launched by India.
He described the talks with the Nigerian President as very productive and commended the role played by Nigeria as the chair of ECOWAS and its contribution to multilateral and plurilateral bodies.
PM Modi lauded Tinubu for acting as a guardian for the 60,000-strong Indian diaspora in Nigeria, noting that about 200 Indian companies present in Nigeria have made investments worth $27 billion and created a large number of jobs.
Following the talks, three Memoranda of Understandings (MoUs) on Cultural Exchange, Cooperation in Customs and Survey Cooperation were signed.
“We will together keep raising the priorities of the Global South on the world stage and there will be success through our joint efforts .
“In different ways, India and Nigeria can take up the agenda of development and put it at the centre of the global discourse and both leaders discussed the need to continuously address the aspirations and challenges of the countries in the Global South,” he said. Solutions devised by India can be customised for countries of the Global South and Nigeria can act as a catalyst and partner in these efforts.
“There is immense scope for ties to flourish even further in sectors like defence, energy, technology, trade, health, education and more.
“PM Modi arrived in Abuja early Sunday (November 17, 2024) on the first trip to the county. Modi, the first Indian premier to visit the West African country in 17 years, was honoured with the Grand Commander of the Order of Niger, the nation’s highest award for his contributions to strengthening bilateral ties.
“PM Modi is in Nigeria as part of a three-nation tour, from Abuja to Brazil to attend the G20 summit and Guyana.
“Soon after his arrival, Modi was presented the “key to the city” of the capital Abuja, symbolising the trust reposed in him by the people of Nigeria.
“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” he said.
Earlier, President Bola Tinubu in his address while receiving PM Modi extols the development cooperation partnership offered by India and its meaningful impact in creating local capacities, skills, and professional expertise.
Tinubu described Modi as a representation of a very strong commitment to democratic values and norms, pointing out that Nigeria values its excellent relationship with India and will work to broaden the same for the mutual benefits of our two friendly countries.
