Modi’s visit to Nigeria is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in 17 years.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday held extensive talks with Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu focusing on boosting the India-Nigeria partnership in a range of areas, including trade, investment and digital public infrastructure.
In his opening remarks, he addressed the host with the Yoruba phrase Ore mi which translates to My friend and extended condolences to those affected by the recent floods in the country and said India is sending 20 tonne relief material for those impacted.
Modi arrived in the Nigerian capital early Sunday on the first trip to the West African country by an Indian prime minister after a gap of 17 years.
The prime minister was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the presidential villa following which he held one-on-one meeting with Tinubu.
“I am happy that I have visited Nigeria at the beginning of my third term. I am happy that under India’s G20 chairmanship, Nigeria got the status of a guest country and the African Union became a permanent member of the grouping,” PM Modi said.
“We prioritise our strategic partnership with Nigeria. Defence, energy, finance, health, education and culture are some of the many sectors where India and Nigeria are cooperating, with new avenues opening as our relationship deepens,” he further added.
He also said that both nations India and Nigeria are together meeting challenges posed by terrorism, separatism, piracy and drug trafficking. He also thanked the Nigerian government for acting as a ‘guardian’ of the 60,000-strong Indian community living in the nation.
“President Tinubu acknowledged India’s efforts to amplify the concerns of developing countries through the Voice of the Global South Summits. The two leaders agreed to work together to meet the development aspirations of the Global South,” the external affairs ministry said in a press release.
“(The Nigerian government) made a special gesture by giving the key of Abuja City PM Modi at the airport,” Dammu Ravi, external ministry’s top official, said.
He further added that PM Modi expressed sympathy for the recent floods in Nigeria and dedicated the honour conferred upon him by President Tinubu to the India-Nigeria friendship and the people of India. He also discussed regional and global issues during his interactions with Nigerian leadership.