To Reinforce Ties, Nigeria, India Seek More Pacts on Security, Economy, Defence, Others

*Tinubu’s last year’s visit to India yielding results, confers GCON national award on Modi*India donates 20 tonnes of humanitarian aid to support flood relief efforts in Nigeria
*Predicts rise in existing over 200 Indian companies, growth in $27 billion investment
*Ohanaeze urges Tinubu to negotiate release of 1.3m Nigerians in Indian prisons
*President leaves for Brazil, to participate in two-day G-20 leaders’ summit

Deji Elumoye, Michael Olugbode in Abuja and Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki

Nigeria and India, yesterday, reaffirmed their commitment to a robust strategic partnership, pledging to strengthen ties in key areas including economic development, defence, security, healthcare and food security, among others.
This formed the highpoint of a  joint statement issued  at the State House in Abuja at the end of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Nigeria on the invitation of President Bola Tinubu.
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 went into a closed-door meeting, and later jointly presided over an expanded bilateral and political talks.

During their bilateral discussion, the two leaders agreed to greater collaboration, also in counterterrorism, maritime security, and intelligence sharing.
With growing threats in the Gulf of Guinea and the Indian Ocean, Nigeria and India further 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.

”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 implementation of the UNGA and the UNSC resolutions on countering terrorism and violent extremism.
”It was agreed to enhance cooperation in the area of counter terrorism,” the joint statement said.
Modi reiterated India’s readiness to support Nigeria’s defence modernisation efforts, highlighting India’s emergence as a trusted defence 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 in the country, which have generated substantial employment and investment opportunities.
On bilateral trade expansion, both leaders directed their officials to finalise 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 fruitification 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 facilitating early finalisation of the remaining investments.

On the sidelines of the G-20 Leaders’ Summit held from September 9th-10th, 2023, in New Delhi, the Nigeria-India Presidential Roundtable and Business Conference had taken place, where Indian investors pledged a combined total of over $14 billion across critical sectors of the Nigerian economy.
The investments were targeted on industrialisation, energy, telecommunications, and defence sectors.
On infrastructure Development, the joint statement, stated that India reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s development priorities through concessional lines of credit and technical expertise.
On 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 discussed broader collaboration on food security and agriculture, health, education, and cultural exchanges.

On food security, they agreed that it  remained a priority for developing countries especially with bigger populations.  
”Nigeria thanked India for providing the necessary concessions sought in the supply of rice at the time of their need.  
”They agreed to enhance collaboration in the area of agriculture from agricultural machinery, high 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 further said.

On healthcare sector, Nigeria and India pledged to deepen their collaboration focusing on the establishment of hospitals and diagnostic centers, as well as 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 across the country.
The Indian government offered to share its CoWIN digital platform, an open-source health management infrastructure that has revolutionised 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 programmes 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 is aimed at making essential medicines more affordable, particularly for vulnerable populations, and supporting Nigerian public hospital procurement processes.

Nigeria and India reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration on education, cultural exchanges, and fostering strong people-to-people 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 programmes, 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.
Tinubu and Modi applauded the vibrant cultural and academic exchanges between the two nations, which have included 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 emphasised the need to explore opportunities for promoting travel and cultural interaction between Nigeria and India.
On working together through its membership in international organisations, 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 pledged cooperation on regional peace and security, particularly in West Africa.
Nigeria ‘took note’ of 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 indicated.

Earlier, Tinubu conferred the national honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) on Modi.
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.
”It is our hope that this will spur renewed cooperation between Nigeria and India in all sectors and also ensure joint collaboration to maintain and strengthen our relations,” he said.
Modi was later decorated with the honour during a working lunch attended by members of the Nigerian and Indian delegations.

Accepting the honour, Modi dedicated it to the 1.4 billion Indian citizens and the deep friendship between the two countries.
”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 mutual 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, identifying 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, he said his visit to Nigeria would further strengthen and expand the longstanding partnership between both countries.
With over 60,000 Indians residing in Nigeria, Modi expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality provided by the Nigerian government.

He described the Indian community in Nigeria as an important link between the two countries.
”Nigeria has played a very important 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”.
At the opening of bilateral and political discussions, Tinubu commended the robust bilateral relations between Nigeria and India, citing high-level engagements, mutual support in multilateral platforms, and partnerships across various sectors.

”Nigeria values its excellent relationship with India and we hope to broaden and deepen the mutual benefit of our two friendly countries.
”You represent a very strong commitment in democratic values and norms. You have been doing a good job in three consecutive elections in a complex society. It is a feat that we respect so much.
”Your transformative leadership, working hard to transform the economy and place India on the top ladder of transformative form of governance is a good example of democratic values that we should continue to share, cherish and promote for the  economic development of our people.
”Although your current visit is very short, I am sure you will notice that like India, Nigeria is unique in many ways but shares similarities with your great country in terms of diversity and development experience.
”These have become our sources of strength, unity as well as the visions we share for a greater and a better future for our countries and our people,” he said.
Both leaders later witnessed the exchange of signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) on cultural exchange programmes, cooperation in customs matters and collaboration between Surveyor-Generals of India and Nigeria.
Tinubu commended Modi for his favourable disposition towards a renewed vision of mutually beneficial bilateral relations.

Modi, too, announced the dispatch of 20 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Nigeria to support flood relief efforts, commending Tinubu’s leadership, which he said had elevated Nigeria’s role on the global stage.
”I am very pleased that during India’s Presidency last year, Nigeria participated in the G20 Summit for the first time as a guest country,” he said.
He welcomed Nigeria’s recent recognition as a partner country in BRICS, and the African Union’s induction into the G20,  and described the feat as an achievement jointly celebrated by both nations.
Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to its strategic partnership with Nigeria, emphasising areas of collaboration such as defence, counter-terrorism, maritime security, technology and economic development.
”We accord a high priority to our strategic partnership with Nigeria. We have strong cooperation in several sectors.
”Our cooperation is very strong, and there are many new possibilities as well for us to take this cooperation forward, ” he said.

The two leaders expressed optimism that the outcomes of the visit would herald a new era in Nigeria-India relations.
Addressing the media later, Secretary of Economic Relations at India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Dammu Ravi, Nigeria should expect more Indian investment with the growth in over 200 companies presently operating in the country.
He also predicted an increase in the present investment of over $27 billion in the nation’s economy by Indian interest.
“While Indian companies are very strong in the traditional areas of manufacturing in Nigeria, with more than 200 companies having invested $27 billion in the economy here, there are new areas that are being identified, which include, as we discussed, the agriculture part of it, particularly lentils and other things which are being considered as a possibility.
“Then irrigation services, seed, hybrid seed development, research and development on good seeds, climate-resistant seeds and other things are being considered so that that area can also come into focus between the two countries.
“So we talked about mining, we talked about various issues pertaining to small and medium enterprises, the skill development part of it. Already, we have some experts who have been training for more than six months in SMEDAN over here, entrepreneurial development skills.

“And also through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation, where we have been sending people to India for skill development, that also came into focus. So, we would be considering all these things too. We are diversifying the areas of our cooperation in trade and economic relations, as well as to strengthen our trade cooperation.”
He revealed that India was interested in further investment in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
“There was a very good concentration of topic on oil and gas investment. Some Indian companies are already working on the CNG areas, which is the focus area of the President also.
“There are companies which are working in CNG city-wide network as well as setting up the outlets for CNG over here. CNG kits are being also sent over here so that it can be put in the cars and vehicles to use the CNG.”
On pharmaceuticals and medicine, he noted that there were nearly $4 billion of investment by Indian companies in the pharmaceutical sector here in Nigeria, and there was already existing eye hospitals of India in Abuja and Lagos, as well as another multi-speciality hospital.

He said: “I can also tell you that there is going to be a bigger hospital, a 300-bed hospital that has come up in Abuja, which will be open very shortly with expert doctors and technicians and others from India with modern technology. So that hospital chain would also be expanding itself into other geopolitical areas too.”
Ravi highlighted the shared stance of India and Nigeria in advocating for a more inclusive Security Council, pointing out that both nations represented the interests of the Global South, which remained underrepresented in international decision-making.
He insisted that, “The world has changed significantly since the establishment of the UN, but the Security Council’s structure has not evolved accordingly.
“Nigeria and India are on the same page on the need for reform. We have to keep working on that in different forums to sensitise the countries on the need for our positions.”

Ohanaeze Urges Tinubu to Negotiate Release of 1.3m Nigerians in Indian Prisons

The apex Igbo sociocultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has urged President Bola Tinubu to utilise the visit of Modi, to negotiate the release of over 1.3 million Nigerians claimed to be currently imprisoned across various states in India.
In a statement issued by the Secretary General of Ohanaeze, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the body noted that the prisoners were individuals mistakenly caught within the web of stringent immigration laws, as well as those pursuing genuine educational endeavours and medical care.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo emphasises the alarming statistic that over 1.3 million Nigerians are currently imprisoned across various states in India, a situation that must not be overlooked.
“This represents a notable humanitarian crisis, given that India houses more Nigerian nationals in its prisons than any other country globally.
“These individuals include those mistakenly caught within the web of stringent immigration laws, as well as those pursuing genuine educational endeavors and medical care,” he said.
Ohanaeze added that its advocacy for the detainees was not applicable to those serving sentences for legitimate criminal convictions.

“India’s enduring diplomatic relationship with Nigeria has spanned an impressive 66 years, beginning with the establishment of its diplomatic mission in Lagos in November 1958.
“This longstanding relationship is substantiated by the meaningful contributions rendered by Indian teachers, doctors, and professionals who played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s formative years.
“It is imperative that President Tinubu recognises the transformative potential of this visit: a moment to revitalise our economic framework and address Nigeria’s tribulations through constructive dialogue,” Ohanaeze urged.
Isiguzoro also urged President Tinubu to seize this moment to negotiate comprehensive agreements that would facilitate mutual investment

Tinubu Leaves for Brazil, to Participate in Two-Day G-20 Leaders’ Summit

President Bola Tinubu has departed Abuja yesterday for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to attend the 19th meeting of the G20 Leaders’ Summit taking place in the South American country.
According to a release by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, the Nigerian leader’s participation is at the instance of the Brazilian President and current President of the group, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
The Summit holding from today, November 18 to Tomorrow, 19, will bring together leaders from the world’s top 20 economies, including the European Union, the African Union, and multilateral financial institutions among others.
This year’s meeting, under the theme, ‘Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet,’ will see the participants discuss the fight against hunger and poverty; reform of the Institution of global governance and; sustainable development and Energy Transition.

Nigeria has always strongly advocated a reform of the global governing institutions, and often presented its impressive credentials as a strong contender for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
Tinubu is also expected to hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines in advancement of Nigeria’s socio-economic reforms.
He will be accompanied by top government officials including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar; Ministers of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha; and Art, Tourism, Culture and Creativity, Hannatu Musawa.
Also on the trip is the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi and the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed.