India-Nigeria Relations

India and Nigeria reaffirmed their strategic partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic visit to Abuja. The high-level talks between PM Modi and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu focused on strengthening cooperation in critical areas such as defence, trade, energy, and agriculture. This visit marks the first by an Indian prime minister to Nigeria in 17 years.

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• Nigeria also conferred its national award - the "Grand Commander of the Order of Niger" (GCON), on Modi for his statesmanship and stellar contribution to fostering bilateral ties, making him the second foreign dignitary to receive the distinction.
• Queen Elizabeth is the only foreign dignitary who was awarded GCON in 1969.
• The award adds to a growing list of international honors for PM Modi, with Nigeria becoming the 17th country to recognise him for his contributions on the global stage.
• MoU: Three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed following the talks, covering cultural exchange, customs cooperation, and survey collaboration. PM Modi also highlighted the contribution of the Indian diaspora in Nigeria, describing the 60,000-strong community as a “key pillar” of bilateral relations.
  • A significant theme of the discussions was the shared vision of India and Nigeria to champion the interests of the Global South.

India-Nigeria Relations

• India and Nigeria have been strategic partners since 2007 with growing economic, energy and defence collaboration.
• India established its diplomatic mission in Lagos in 1958, two years before Nigeria gained independence.
• Today, more than 200 Indian companies operate in Nigeria, investing approximately $27 billion across various sectors, making them the second-largest employers after the Nigerian federal government.
• Trade: India is a major trading partner for Nigeria, with Indian products accounting for over 70% of the pharmaceutical market in Nigeria. Bilateral trade reached USD 7.89 billion in 2023-24, despite fluctuations in recent years.
  • Nigeria is the 2nd largest trading partner of India in the African region, with a bilateral trade worth $11.8 billion in 2022-23.
  • In the year 2023-24, the bilateral trade stood at $7.89 billion. Over 200 Indian companies are currently operating in Nigeria, with investments totalling around $27 billion across various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, power, and construction.
• Defence Cooperation: India’s growing relationship with Africa, especially Nigeria, has a strong defence component. India is involved in four main areas of military cooperation with African nations:
  • UN Peacekeeping: India sends soldiers for peacekeeping missions under the United Nations (UN).
  • Training African Officers: India trains military personnel from African countries, including Nigeria.
  • Indian Navy in the Indian Ocean: India’s naval forces play an active role in maintaining security in the Indian Ocean region, which is crucial for global maritime trade.
  • Defence Industry: India’s defence industry is actively engaging in Africa, supplying military hardware like helicopters and fighter jets.
• Moreover, India’s Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program offers Nigerian defence personnel 150 training slots every year. This cooperation also extends to military hardware procurement, with Nigeria exploring the purchase of helicopters and fighter jets from Indian manufacturers like Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
• Space and Cybersecurity Cooperation:
  • Space Cooperation: An MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) has been signed to boost space collaboration, with training programs for Nigeria’s National Space Agency starting in January 2025. The focus is on remote sensing, mapping, and satellite development.
  • Cybersecurity: India’s Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN) has partnered with Nigeria’s CERT-NG to strengthen cybersecurity cooperation, ensuring better protection from cyber threats.
• Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Cooperation: India’s pharmaceutical industry plays a major role in Nigeria’s healthcare sector. Indian medicines account for over 70% of Nigeria’s pharmaceutical market. India is referred to as the "Pharmacy of the World" in Nigeria due to its affordable and high-quality medicines. Key developments include:
  • Healthcare Schemes: India is also assisting Nigeria in implementing its healthcare programs, such as the COWIN vaccine platform and the Ayushman Bharat health scheme.
• Agriculture and Food Security: Agriculture employs about 70% of Nigeria's population, but only 44% of Nigeria's arable land is currently cultivated. Indian companies are already involved in edible oil plantations and are interested in grain farming in Nigeria.
• Oil, Gas, and Economic Cooperation: Nigeria is a major oil producer, and India depends on it for a large portion of its oil imports. Nigeria’s oil and gas reserves are crucial for India’s energy security.
  • India imports about 6 million barrels of oil per day, and disruptions in oil supply from the Middle East could hurt India’s economy.
• Modi’s visit to Nigeria marks a new chapter in bilateral ties, which were elevated to a strategic partnership in 2007.