By Cross Udo, Abuja
Nigeria and India have reaffirmed their commitment to a robust strategic partnership, pledging to strengthen ties in key areas, including economic development, defence, healthcare, and food security.
This was contained in a joint statement issued yesterday in Abuja after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Nigeria at President Bola Tinubu’s invitation.
Shortly after the Indian Prime Minister received a formal welcome, including a 21-artillery gun salute at the Presidential Villa, President Tinubu and Prime Minister Modi entered a tete-a-tete and later jointly presided over an expanded bilateral and political talks.
During their bilateral discussion, the two leaders agreed to a greater collaboration in counterterrorism, maritime security, and intelligence sharing.
With growing threats in the Gulf of Guinea and the Indian Ocean, they also agreed to coordinated actions to safeguard maritime trade routes and combat piracy.
The two countries pledged to continue regular naval exercises and joint anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Guinea to safeguard critical maritime routes.
A statement issued by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said, “The leaders reiterated their unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including the cross-border movement of terrorists and terror financing networks and safe havens.
“They called for zero tolerance to terrorism and expeditious finalisation and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the UN Framework as well as the implementation of the UNGA and the UNSC resolutions on countering terrorism and violent extremism. It was agreed to enhance counterterrorism cooperation,” the joint statement said.
Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s readiness to support Nigeria’s defence modernisation efforts, highlighting his country’s emergence as a trusted defence equipment manufacturer.
The two leaders also highlighted the vibrant economic relationship between India and Nigeria, with India positioned as Nigeria’s largest trading partner and a significant contributor to its economy.
Nigeria commended the contributions of over 200 Indian companies operating there, which have generated substantial employment and investment opportunities.
On bilateral trade expansion, both leaders directed their officials to finalize pending agreements, including the Economic Cooperation Agreement (ECA), Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA), and the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), to boost trade and investment.
They noted with satisfaction “the fructification of some of the investments” agreed to by the Indian companies during President Tinubu’s visit to India in September 2023 and committed to facilitating the early finalization of the remaining investments.
The Nigeria-India Presidential Roundtable and Business Conference took place on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders’ Summit, held from September 9 to 10, 2023, in New Delhi. Indian investors pledged a combined total of over $14bn across critical sectors of the Nigerian economy.
The investments were targeted at industrialisation, energy, telecommunications, and defence sectors
On infrastructure Development, the joint statement arising from Prime Minister Modi’s state visit stated that India reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s development priorities through concessional Lines of credit and technical expertise.
Regarding energy collaboration, Nigeria and India agreed on long-term contracts for crude oil and LNG supply and technical support in pipeline transmission security, CNG conversion, and LPG bottling distribution.
The two leaders also discussed broader collaboration on food security, agriculture, health, education, and cultural exchanges.
The leaders agreed that food security remains a priority for developing countries, especially those with more significant populations.
“Nigeria thanked India for providing the necessary concessions sought in the rice supply at the time of their need.
“They agreed to enhance collaboration in agriculture from agricultural machinery and yield seeds to sharing technical expertise, know-how, and technologies and agreed to identify ways of cooperation in these areas.
“The Indian side thanked the Nigerian side for supporting the Indian Resolution at the UN to declare 2023 as the International Year of Millets and agreed to increase collaboration between India and Nigeria in the area of Millets,” the joint statement said.
In the healthcare sector, Nigeria and India pledged to deepen their collaboration, focusing on the establishment of hospitals and diagnostic centres and the deployment of innovative health management systems.
Both sides acknowledged the ongoing efforts by Indian hospitals operating in Nigeria and highlighted the vast potential for further collaboration to enhance healthcare delivery nationwide.
The Indian government offered to share its CoWIN digital platform, an open-source health management infrastructure that has revolutionized vaccination campaigns and health data management in India.
This system is expected to support Nigeria’s healthcare system by improving the efficiency and accessibility of vaccination programs and other health initiatives.
The Indian government also extended its commitment to supply high-quality generic pharmaceutical products to Nigeria at economical rates under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) scheme- a campaign launched by India’s Department of Pharmaceuticals to provide quality medicines at affordable prices to the masses.
This initiative aims to make essential medicines more affordable, particularly for vulnerable populations, and to support Nigerian public hospital procurement processes.
Nigeria and India reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration on education and cultural exchanges and fostering people-to-people solid contacts, building on longstanding historical ties and mutual aspirations.
India was acknowledged as a significant partner in Nigeria’s human resource development through various scholarship programs, including the eVBAB scheme, which facilitates virtual learning opportunities.
Both sides agreed to work together to encourage more Nigerian students to leverage these scholarship programmes.
President Tinubu and Prime Minister Modi applauded the vibrant cultural and academic exchanges between the two nations, including visits by cultural troupes, participation in film and literary festivals, and other collaborative activities.
They underscored the importance of further widening these exchanges to promote mutual understanding and shared heritage.
The leaders recognised the role of tourism in enhancing people-to-people connections and emphasized the need to explore opportunities for promoting travel and cultural interaction between Nigeria and India.
On working together through its membership in international organizations, India commended Nigeria for its reciprocal support of non-permanent members of the UN Security Council for 2028-2029.
The two countries reiterated their joint commitment to UN Security Council reform and mutual support for permanent and non-permanent memberships.
They also pledged regional peace and security cooperation, particularly in West Africa.
Nigeria noted India’s invitation to join the Global Biofuel Alliance and Global Rivers Cities Alliance.
“As members of International Solar Alliance (ISA), both sides agreed to intensify their cooperation in establishing solar parks and to work towards increasing the share of the renewable energy in their energy portfolio,” the joint statement said.
*Tinubu confers GCON on Indian PM, Modi
Meanwhile, President Tinubu has conferred the national honour of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) on the Indian Prime Minister.
Tinubu honoured the PM during the Nigeria/India Bilateral meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Speaking at the opening of bilateral and political talks between the two leaders, President Tinubu described the honour as a gesture of Nigeria’s appreciation and commitment to India as a worthy partner.
He praised India for “standing side by side” with Nigeria on many fronts and for many decades.
“We hope that this will spur renewed cooperation between Nigeria and India in all sectors and also ensure collaboration to maintain and strengthen our relations,” the Nigerian leader said.
Prime Minister Modi was later decorated with the honour during a working lunch attended by members of the Nigerian and Indian delegations.
In his acceptance remarks, Modi dedicated the honour to India’s 1.4 billion citizens and the deep friendship between India and Nigeria.
“This honour will continue to inspire us to take the India-Nigeria strategic partnership to new heights. The relations between India and Nigeria are based on cooperation, understanding, and mutual respect.
“As two vibrant democracies and dynamic economies, we will continue to work for the benefit of our people,” Modi said.
The Indian Prime minister identified the social and cultural diversities of the two nations as sources of strength while noting that Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Develop India 2047 share many common aspirations.
Recalling President Tinubu’s visit to India in September 2023, Modi said his state visit to Nigeria would further strengthen and expand the longstanding partnership between both countries.
With over 60,000 Indians residing in Nigeria, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality provided by the Nigerian government.
He described the Indian community in Nigeria as an essential link between the two countries.
“Nigeria has played a vital and positive role in Africa, and for India, deepening our relations with Africa has been a very high priority. In all our efforts, we have always tried to work with friendly countries like Nigeria.
“As it is said in Africa, a friend is someone you share with. India and Nigeria will work together to advance the interests of our people and the African continent. Through close coordination and working together, we will advance the interests and priorities of the Global South,” he said.
