Nigeria and India on Sunday agreed to deepen collaboration in maritime security, intelligence and counter-terrorism during a state visit to the West African country by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Modi is the first Indian premier to visit Nigeria in 17 years after an invitation by President Bola Tinubu, who is seeking investments from some of the world’s biggest economies.
Modi arrived in the capital Abuja on Saturday night and met Tinubu at the presidential villa on Sunday where the two leaders also discussed economic development, defence, healthcare and food security, a joint statement said.
“As two vibrant democracies with dynamic economies, we have been working together for the well being of the people of both countries,” Modi said.
With growing threats in the Gulf of Guinea and the Indian Ocean, the two countries agreed to coordinated action to safeguard maritime trade routes and combat piracy.
The joint statement issued after the meeting affirmed their commitment to addressing terrorism, radicalization, and other security challenges.
“Nigeria and India are united in their resolve to secure our trade routes and protect our people from threats that undermine global stability,” Tinubu stated during the talks.
The two nations also signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) covering cultural exchange, customs cooperation, and survey collaboration.
The discussions extended to global issues, with Tinubu acknowledging India’s leadership in championing the concerns of developing nations through the Voice of the Global South initiative.
Modi lauded Nigeria’s role as the chair of The Economic Community of West African States, and invited Tinubu to join India’s green initiatives, including the International Solar Alliance.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is seeking to woo more Indian investment and cheaper lines of credit to boost its economy and create jobs.
On the sidelines of the G20 summit last year, Nigeria said it had secured nearly $14 billion of pledges from Indian investors, including Jindal Steel and Power which committed to
pump $3 billion into Nigeria’s steel sector.
There are more than 200 Indian companies operating in Nigeria.
After Nigeria, Modi was set to travel to Brazil to attend this year’s G20 summit.
With Reuters inputs
