HIGH COMMISSION OF INDIA ABUJA, NIGERIA (CONCURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO BENIN AND THE ECOWAS)

1. 1. India - NIGERIA BILATERAL RELATIONS

OVERALL, RELATIONS:

1. India and Nigeria enjoy warm, friendly, and deep-rooted bilateral relations. India, with a population of 1.4 billion, and Nigeria, over 220 million, are large developing and democratic countries with multi-religious, multi-ethnic, and multi-lingual societies. India as the largest democracy in the world and Nigeria as the largest in Africa, become natural partners.
2. The struggle against colonialism and apartheid in the formative years after independence of the two countries laid strong foundation for the engagement of the two countries. India and Nigeria are playing an important role in the South-South Cooperation. In the multilateral organisations particularly United Nations, G77 and NAM, both countries have been articulating the voice of the developing world in a coordinated and effective manner.
3. India established its Diplomatic House in Lagos in November 1958, two years before Nigeria became independent in 1960. Political contacts at the highest level were maintained during the last 60 years.
4. In Oct 2007 Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India visited Nigeria. During this visit both countries raised the status of bilateral relationship to a “Strategic Partnership’. Our diplomatic relations have transformed from “Historical Friendship” to “Strategic Partners”.
5. The presence of a large Indian expatriate community of about 50,000, the largest in West Africa adds value to the importance of the long-standing relationship between the two countries.

BILATERAL VISITS

6. India’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s landmark visit to Nigeria in September 1962 and his interaction with Nigeria’s first Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa had created mutual goodwill, respect, and friendship between the two countries and leaders. Two Nigerian Presidents visited India as the Chief Guests at India’s Republic Day i.e. in 1983 by President Shehu Shagari and in 2000 at India’s 50th Republic Day celebrations by President Olusegun Obasanjo. Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Abuja in December 2003 to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit.
7. Nigerian leadership regularly visited India –with President Obasanjo in November 2004, Vice President Goodluck Jonathan (who later served as President from 2011-2015) in November 2007 and to the first India-Africa Forum Summit held in New Delhi in April 2008. During the historic State visit to Nigeria by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in October 2007, India and Nigeria adopted the Abuja Declaration for Strategic Partnership, which gave a new impetus to our bilateral ties.
8. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari visited New Delhi in October 2015 to participate in the Third India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-III) The meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with President Buhari enabled the two countries to review the bilateral engagement, and to chart a path for further enhancement of the bilateral engagement.
9. The visit of Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari to Nigeria from 26 to 29 September 2016 and his meetings with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo provided yet another opportunity to further deepen the bilateral cooperation.
10. From 5-10 September 2023, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria visited India to attend G20 leaders’ summit 2023. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met Mr. Tinubu on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi.
11. Both countries have nurtured the relationship through periodic interactions. Important bilateral visits at the level of Heads of State or Government are given in the table below.

RECENT VISITS AT MINISTERIAL LEVEL:

India to Nigeria

Nigeria to India

INSTITUTIONAL DIALOGUES

12. Foreign Office Consultations (FoC): The first round of India-Nigeria Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) was held in Abuja in December 2003 on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Summit. The 2nd FoC was held in New Delhi on 29 September 2022.
13. Joint Commission Meeting (JCM): The Joint Commission was set up between the two countries in 1979.

14. Consular Dialogue:

DEFENCE RELATIONS

16. The Defence Cooperation between the Armed Forces of India and Nigeria has been nurtured over a period and military interactions began right earnest after Nigeria’s independence in 1960. India helped set up various military institutions including the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) at Kaduna, the Naval College at Port Harcourt besides other elite military training establishments in Nigeria. Several Nigerian officers have also been trained over the years in Indian military institutions. These include former Nigerian Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida and several other top military officers. The incumbent President Muhammudu Buhari also attended the prestigious Defence Services Staff Course (DSSC) at Wellington in 1970s.
17. After signing a bilateral MoU on Defence Cooperation in October 2007, visits at high-level took place and bilateral interaction for defence cooperation has increased over the years. The Armed forces of both the nations have attended military training together, exchange programmes and served in UN Peace Keeping Operations. These exchanges have assisted in strengthening cooperation not only within the Armed forces but also between both the countries. Defence Cooperation is an integral to the strategic partnership between India and Nigeria. Among the areas of cooperation include counter terrorism and counterinsurgency (CT/CI), sea piracy and exchange of visits between training institutes.
18. Joint Defence Coordination Committee (JDCC) : The JDCC explores avenues to enhance the bilateral Defence Cooperation.

19. NSA Visit (March 2021): Nigerian delegation led by National Security Adviser of Nigeria Major General (Retd.) Babagana Monguno visited New Delhi for the First Strategic and Counter-Terrorism Dialogue between India and Nigeria at the level of NSA from March 4-5, 2021.The 2nd CT Dialogue is to take place on 4th -5th November 2024 in New Delhi, India.
20. In August 2022, a 12-member delegation from NYSC, Nigeria visited India as a part of 75th Independence Day celebration under the cultural exchange programme, to showcase culture and heritage of Nigeria.
21. In September 2022, Indian Naval Ship, INS Tarkash visited Lagos, Nigeria to conduct first ever anti-piracy operation in the Gulf of Guinea.
22. From 13-16 October 2023, INS SUMEDHA visited Lagos, Nigeria.
23. Parliamentary Cooperation : Mr. Abbas Tajudeen, Speaker of Nigeria's 10th House of Representatives, Dy. President of the Senate Mr. Jibrin Barau, along with Nigerian delegation visited New Delhi from 13-14 Oct 2023 to attend 9th P20 Summit and G20 Parliamentary Forum organized by the Parliament of India in collaboration with the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

TRADE AND INVESTMENT RELATIONS

22. 24. In 2023, India figured amongst the top 5 trading partners of Nigeria. The Bilateral trade volume between Nigeria and India has fallen from US$ 14.95 billion in 2021-22 to US$ 7.89 billion in 2023-24. This is mainly because of decrease in the volume of oil purchased from Nigeria. The fall in quantum of oil purchase is also attributable to non-nomination of cargo from Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) which had signed a G2G term contract for supply with Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL).
23. India-Nigeria Bilateral Trade Statistics (Value in US$ million)

Source: DGCIS India

26. 26. During 2023-2, the High Commission participated/organised 18 physical events (CII,FIEO, ODOP,FAO,Defense,Pharmexcil,Trade Fairs et al). Besides, the High Commission has been regularly providing in-depth sectoral analysis of economic and industrial data of Nigeria to provide an edge to policy makers and companies for making judicious business decisions and enhancing of exports to Nigeria.in-depth sectoral analysis of economic and industrial data of Nigeria to provide an edge to policy makers and companies for making judicious business decisions and enhancing of exports to Nigeria.

DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION

27. India is emerging as a development partner of Nigeria in two fronts –by offering developmental assistance through concessional loans and by offering capacity building training programmes.
28. CONCESSIONAL LOANS:

India has till now offered 5 LOCs for US$ 395.44 million. Out of which only one LOC of US$ 100 million was signed by Nigeria for 3 power projects. Out of this 100 million Lines of Credit @ US$ 30 million for a gas fired turbine electricity generation station in Cross River State of Nigeria and @ US$ 31.05 million for 3 sub-projects including 2x60 MVA transmission substation, solar-powered streetlights and 50kVA mini-grids in Kaduna State of Nigeria are under implementation. On request of Nigerian side remaining LOCs are being re purposed.