Abuja: Nigeria and India have pledged to strengthen ties in the strategic areas of agriculture, renewable energy, and defense, among others. Dammu Ravi, India’s Secretary of Economic Relations, announced this at a news conference in Abuja during the state visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Nigeria.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the visit marks the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 17 years and provided an opportunity for the leadership of both countries to deepen bilateral relations across multiple fronts. Ravi emphasized that Prime Minister Modi and President Bola Tinubu reaffirmed their support and commitment to enhancing the strategic partnership between India and Nigeria. The discussions between the two leaders covered a wide range of topics, including trade, investment, defense, security, education, health, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.
The primary focus, however, was on further enhancing cooperation in agriculture, railway transport, renewable energy, and development
cooperation. Both nations are working more closely to boost investment in the renewable energy sector and address climate change challenges.
Shri Balasubramanian, the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, highlighted that Indian companies are eager to diversify and invest in Nigeria’s agriculture sector. New areas of collaboration have been identified, particularly in irrigation services, hybrid seed development, and climate-resilient seeds. Additionally, discussions touched upon mining, SMEs, and skill development.
Investment in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas sector was also a key topic, with plans to establish Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion facilities in Nigeria. Some Indian companies are already working on setting up CNG outlets and installing CNG kits in vehicles.
Furthermore, Nigeria and India have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in the areas of Cultural Exchange, Survey Cooperation, and Customs. The bilateral ties were elevated to a ‘strategic partnership’ when then-prime minister Dr. Manmohan Si
ngh visited Nigeria in October 2007.