PM Modi talks with Nigerian President Tinubu deal with boosting strategic ties

India accords excessive precedence to its strategic partnership with Nigeria, Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned on Sunday (November 17, 2024) as he held wide-ranging talks with Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with a deal with shoring up bilateral cooperation in sectors reminiscent of defence, commerce and power.

Of their talks, the 2 leaders reaffirmed their dedication to collectively struggle terrorism, piracy and radicalisation and work in direction of assembly the aspirations of the International South.

PM Modi provided India’s expertise in agriculture, transportation, reasonably priced drugs, renewable power, and digital transformation to Nigeria, in line with the Ministry of Exterior Affairs (MEA).

On his half, Mr. Tinubu appreciated the event cooperation partnership provided by India and its significant influence in creating native capacities, expertise, {and professional} experience.

PM Modi arrived in Abuja early Sunday (November 17, 2024) on the primary journey to the nation by an Indian Prime Minister after a niche of 17 years.

In a publish on ‘X’, the prime minister described the talks with the Nigerian president as “very productive” and that they talked about including momentum to the strategic partnership.

“There’s immense scope for ties to flourish even additional in sectors like defence, power, expertise, commerce, well being, training and extra,” he mentioned.

Following the talks, three Memoranda of Understandings (MoUs) on cultural change, cooperation in customs and survey Cooperation have been signed.

In his televised opening remarks on the delegation-level talks, PM Modi recognized terrorism, separatism, piracy and drug trafficking as main challenges and mentioned the 2 nations will proceed to work collectively to cope with them.

“We give excessive precedence to our strategic partnership with Nigeria…I’m assured {that a} new chapter in our ties will start following our talks,” the prime minister mentioned.

PM Modi additionally described the round 60,000-strong Indian expatriate neighborhood as a key pillar of India-Nigeria relations and thanked Mr. Tinubu for making certain their welfare.

The prime minister additionally introduced that India is sending 20 tonnes of aid provides for Nigerian individuals hit by final month’s floods.

The MEA mentioned PM Modi and Mr. Tinubu reviewed the continuing bilateral cooperation and mentioned methods to additional strengthen India-Nigeria strategic partnership.

“Expressing satisfaction on the progress of ties, they agreed that there was immense potential for collaboration within the fields of commerce, funding, training, power, well being, tradition, and people-to-people ties,” it mentioned.

“The 2 leaders additionally mentioned enhancing defence and safety cooperation. They reaffirmed their dedication to collectively combating terrorism, piracy and radicalisation,” it mentioned.

The 2 leaders additionally mentioned international and regional points, and President Tinubu acknowledged India’s efforts to amplify the considerations of creating nations by means of the Voice of the International South summits.

“The 2 leaders agreed to work collectively to fulfill the event aspirations of the International South,” the MEA mentioned in a press release.

Within the assembly, PM Modi appreciated the position performed by Nigeria because the chair of ECOWAS and its contribution to multilateral and plurilateral our bodies.

The ECOWAS or Financial Neighborhood of West African States is a regional political and financial union of 15 nations of West Africa.

Alluding to Nigeria’s membership of the Worldwide Photo voltaic Alliance and the Worldwide Massive Cat Alliance, PM Modi invited President Tinubu to hitch different pro-planet inexperienced initiatives launched by India, the MEA mentioned.

In his opening remarks, PM Modi referred to the African Union changing into a everlasting member of the G20 on the India-hosted summit of the grouping final 12 months and described it as a big end result.

Earlier than the delegation-level talks, PM Modi and President Tinubu held one-on-one assembly on the Presidential Villa.

The prime minister was additionally accorded a ceremonial welcome.

PM Modi is in Nigeria as a part of a three-nation tour. From Abuja, he’ll journey to Brazil to attend the G20 summit. His final vacation spot might be Guyana.

The India-Nigeria ties have been elevated to the standing of a “strategic partnership’ throughout then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s go to to the African nation in October 2007.

Nigeria has been an in depth associate of India for over six many years.

New Delhi established its diplomatic Home in Lagos in November 1958, two years earlier than Nigeria grew to become unbiased in 1960.

The presence of a big Indian expatriate neighborhood of about 60,000, the biggest in West Africa, provides worth to the significance of the long-standing relationship between the 2 nations.

There are greater than 200 Indian corporations who’ve invested about $27 billion in all vital manufacturing sectors and these corporations are the second largest employers after the federal authorities, in line with Indian officers.

India has emerged as a growth associate of Nigeria on two fronts – by providing developmental help by means of concessional loans ($100 million) and by providing capacity-building coaching programmes.