From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Nigeria and India have pledged to deepen their collaboration across critical sectors such as food security, healthcare, defence and economic development.
The commitment was outlined in a joint statement released on Sunday in Abuja, following the state visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Nigeria, which was arranged at the invitation of President Bola Tinubu.
At the Presidential Villa, the two leaders discussed a wide range of key issues, including intelligence sharing, maritime security, counterterrorism, and strengthening defense ties.
As part of their efforts to address growing threats in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Guinea, Nigeria and India agreed to intensify their cooperation to protect maritime trade routes and combat piracy. The leaders committed to frequent naval drills and joint anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Guinea to secure vital shipping lanes.
Modi also reiterated India’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s defense modernization, highlighting India’s emergence as a reliable defense manufacturer. The leaders also underscored the strong economic ties between the two countries, with India being Nigeria’s largest trading partner and a significant contributor to its economy.
President Tinubu acknowledged the contributions of over 200 Indian companies operating in Nigeria, which have created substantial employment and investment opportunities. Both leaders directed their officials to finalize agreements such as the Economic Cooperation Agreement (ECA), the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA), and the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), all aimed at expanding bilateral trade and investment.
India reaffirmed its support for Nigeria’s development priorities, pledging concessional lines of credit and technical expertise to support infrastructure development. In the energy sector, both countries agreed on long-term contracts for crude oil and LNG supply and technical cooperation in areas such as pipeline security, CNG conversion, and LPG distribution.
On food security, the two leaders acknowledged its importance for developing nations with large populations. Nigeria expressed gratitude for India’s support in rice supply during times of need and agreed to enhance agricultural collaboration, including sharing agricultural machinery, high-yield seeds, and technical expertise. They also discussed expanding collaboration on Millets, with India thanking Nigeria for its support of the Indian Resolution at the UN to declare 2023 the International Year of Millets.
In healthcare, the two countries committed to deepening cooperation, particularly in establishing hospitals, diagnostic centers, and deploying innovative health management systems. India offered to share its CoWIN digital platform, which has revolutionized vaccination campaigns in India, to support Nigeria’s healthcare initiatives.
Furthermore, India committed to supplying high-quality generic pharmaceuticals to Nigeria at affordable prices under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) scheme, aimed at making essential medicines more accessible, particularly to vulnerable populations.
On education and cultural exchanges, Nigeria and India reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration. India has been instrumental in Nigeria’s human resource development through scholarship programs such as the eVBAB scheme, which offers virtual learning opportunities. The leaders agreed to encourage more Nigerian students to take advantage of these programmes.
In the international arena, India commended Nigeria for its support in the UN Security Council and reaffirmed their commitment to UN Security Council reform. Both countries pledged to work together on regional peace and security, particularly in West Africa. They also took note of India’s invitation for Nigeria to join the Global Biofuel Alliance and Global Rivers Cities Alliance.
As members of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), both nations agreed to intensify their efforts in establishing solar parks and increasing the share of renewable energy in their energy portfolios, marking another important milestone in their growing collaboration.