India accords high priority to its strategic partnership with Nigeria: PM Modi

India accords high priority to its strategic partnership with Nigeria Prime Minister PM Narendra Modi said on Sunday during his talks with Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu The two leaders focused on strengthening bilateral ties in key sectors such as defence trade energy and agriculture news agency PTI reportedDuring their meeting the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to jointly combat terrorism piracy and radicalisation and vowed to work together to address the aspirations of the Global SouthPM Modi arrived in Abuja early on Sunday marking the first visit to Nigeria by an Indian Prime Minister in 17 years PTI reportedThe PM offered Indiarsquos expertise in areas such as agriculture transportation affordable medicine renewable energy and digital transformation to Nigeria the Ministry of External Affairs MEA said in a statementIn return President Tinubu appreciated Indiarsquos development cooperation efforts highlighting their positive impact in building local capacities skills and professional expertise PTI reportedTerrorism separatism piracy and drug trafficking major challenges PM ModiIn the morning PM Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the presidential villa complete with a 21gun salute after which he held a oneonone meeting with President Tinubu Later the two leaders engaged in delegationlevel talksIn a post on social media platform X PM Modi described the discussions with President Tinubu as very productive noting that both leaders were focused on adding momentum to the strategic partnership There is immense scope for ties to flourish even further in sectors like defence energy technology trade health education and more he addedFollowing the talks three Memoranda of Understanding MoUs were signed covering cultural exchange customs cooperation and survey cooperationDuring his opening remarks at the delegationlevel talks PM Modi identified terrorism separatism piracy and drug trafficking as major challenges underscoring that both countries would continue to work together to tackle them ldquoWe give high priority to our strategic partnership with Nigeria I am confident that a new chapter in our ties will begin following our talksrdquo he saidModi also praised the approximately 60000strong Indian expatriate community in Nigeria calling them a key pillar of IndiaNigeria relations and thanked President Tinubu for ensuring their welfareThe MEA said that the two leaders reviewed ongoing bilateral cooperation and discussed ways to further strengthen the IndiaNigeria strategic partnership Expressing satisfaction at the progress of ties they agreed that there was immense potential for collaboration in trade investment education energy health culture and peopletopeople relations the statement addedThe leaders also discussed enhancing defence and security cooperation and reiterated their commitment to jointly fighting terrorism piracy and radicalisationIn a media briefing Secretary Economic Relations at the MEA Dammu Ravi said Modi and Tinubu had agreed to expand bilateral economic cooperation particularly in the renewable energy sector The two leaders also shared the view that India and Nigeria were wellpositioned to advance the aspirations of the Global SouthThe discussions also covered global and regional issues The MEA said that President Tinubu acknowledged Indias efforts to amplify the concerns of developing countries through the Voice of the Global South summits ldquoThe two leaders agreed to work together to meet the development aspirations of the Global Southrdquo the MEA added in its statementPrime Minister Modi also recalled his warm meeting with President Tinubu at the G20 Summit in New Delhi last year and highlighted the shared democratic values and strong peopletopeople ties that define IndiaNigeria relationsModi expressed his sympathies to Tinubu for the destruction caused by recent floods in Nigeria The Nigerian president thanked India for its timely assistance with relief materials and medicinesIn their meeting Modi also commended Nigeriarsquos role as the chair of ECOWAS Economic Community of West African States and its contributions to multilateral and plurilateral bodies He invited President Tinubu to join other proplanet green initiatives launched by India referring to Nigeriarsquos membership in the International Solar Alliance and the International Big Cat AllianceModi to travel to Brazil for G20 Summit nextModi also highlighted the African Unions elevation to permanent membership in the G20 during last yearrsquos Indiahosted summit calling it a significant outcomeFollowing the talks President Tinubu hosted a state banquet in honour of Prime Minister ModiModi is in Nigeria as part of a threenation tour After Abuja he will travel to Brazil for the G20 summit followed by GuyanaIndiaNigeria relations were upgraded to a strategic partnership during thenPrime Minister Manmohan Singhs visit to Nigeria in October 2007 Nigeria has been a close partner of India for over six decades India established its diplomatic mission in Lagos in 1958 two years before Nigeria gained independence in 1960The presence of about 60000 Indian expatriates in Nigeriamdashthe largest such community in West Africamdashfurther strengthens the importance of this longstanding relationship Over 200 Indian companies have invested about USD 27 billion across key manufacturing sectors making them the secondlargest employers in Nigeria after the federal government according to Indian officialsIndia has also emerged as a key development partner for Nigeria offering concessional loans USD 100 million and capacitybuilding training programmesWith PTI inputs