November 17th 2024.
During a meeting on Sunday, the leaders of Nigeria and India, President Bola Tinubu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, discussed ways to strengthen their ties in various areas, including maritime security and counterterrorism. The two leaders also agreed to provide more support to other nations in the Global South.
This was Prime Minister Modi's first visit to Nigeria, and he was warmly welcomed by President Tinubu in the capital city of Abuja. Both leaders expressed their enthusiasm for a new chapter in their strategic partnership, which encompasses defense, energy, technology, trade, and development.
Modi has long championed India as the voice of the Global South, a group of developing countries that includes Nigeria, China, and wealthy Persian Gulf states. In his remarks, he emphasized the importance of working together to promote the interests of the Global South on the global stage.
The joint statement released after the meeting highlighted the commitment of both leaders to collaborate on counterterrorism, maritime security, and intelligence sharing. These efforts are crucial in light of the increasing threats in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Guinea, an area notorious for piracy.
Trade between India and Nigeria has been steadily growing, and the two countries have a strong economic relationship. In fact, Nigeria is India's largest trading partner in Africa, with a bilateral trade estimated at $14.9 billion in 2022. Additionally, there are over 60,000 Indian nationals and 200 Indian companies operating in Nigeria.
In recognition of his contributions to the partnership between the two nations, Prime Minister Modi was awarded the title of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, Nigeria's second-highest national honor. President Tinubu praised Modi for his strong commitment to democratic values and norms and expressed Nigeria's desire to further strengthen their relationship for the mutual benefit of both countries.
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