Abuja:

India accords high priority to its strategic partnership with Nigeria and it will work towards boosting ties in a range of areas, including defence, energy and trade, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during his talks with Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday.

In his televised opening remarks at the meeting, PM Modi identified terrorism, separatism, piracy and drug trafficking as major challenges and said the two countries will continue to work together to deal with them.

PM Modi arrived in Abuja early Sunday on the first trip to the country by an Indian prime minister after a gap of 17 years. “We give high priority to our strategic partnership with Nigeria…I am confident that a new chapter in our ties will begin following our talks,” the prime minister said.

PM Modi also described the around 60,000-strong Indian expatriate community as a key pillar of India-Nigeria relations and thanked Tinubu for ensuring their welfare.

The Prime Minister also announced that India is sending 20 tonnes of relief supplies for Nigerian people hit by last month’s floods.

He also referred to the African Union becoming a permanent member of the G20 at the India-hosted summit of the grouping last year and described it as a significant outcome.

Before the delegation-level talks, PM Modi and Mr. Tinubu held one-on-one meeting at the Presidential Villa.

The prime minister was also accorded a ceremonial welcome.

Both sides are likely to ink a number of agreements following the delegation-level talks.

PM Modi is in Nigeria as part of a three-nation tour. From Abuja, he will travel to Brazil to attend the G20 summit. His last destination will be Guyana.

The India-Nigeria ties were elevated to the status of a “strategic partnership’ during then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to the African nation in October 2007.

Nigeria has been a close partner of India for over six decades.

New Delhi established its diplomatic House in Lagos in November 1958, two years before Nigeria became independent in 1960.

The presence of a large Indian expatriate community of about 60,000, the largest in West Africa, adds value to the importance of the long-standing relationship between the two countries.

There are more than 200 Indian companies who have invested about USD 27 billion in all important manufacturing sectors and these companies are the second largest employers after the federal government, according to Indian officials.

India has emerged as a development partner of Nigeria on two fronts — by offering developmental assistance through concessional loans (USD 100 million) and by offering capacity-building training programmes.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi being received by the Nigerian delegates upon his arrival at the airport, in Abuja, Nigeria on November 17, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Nigeria will confer Prime Minister Narendra Modi with its second-highest national award, the ‘Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger’, making him the second foreign dignitary to receive the distinction.

Queen Elizabeth is the only foreign dignitary who has been awarded with GCON in 1969. This will be the 17th such international award being conferred on PM Modi by a country.

PM Modi arrived in Nigeria on Sunday (November 17, 2024) on the first leg of his three-nation visit at the invitation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Nigeria in 17 years. He is on a five-day visit to Nigeria, Brazil and Guyana. From Nigeria, he will travel to Brazil.

On his arrival in Nigeria, PM Modi was warmly welcomed by Minister for Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, who presented him with the ‘Key to the City’ of Abuja.

(With inputs from PTI)

New Delhi:

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived on Sunday on his first-ever visit to Nigeria, the Indian community living in the West African country turned up in large numbers giving him a rousing welcome, chanting ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Vande Mataram’ slogans, at the Abuja airport.

Thanking the Indian Diaspora in Nigeria for welcoming him, PM Modi wrote a post on X: “Heartwarming to see the Indian community in Nigeria extending such a warm and vibrant welcome!”

Heartwarming to see the Indian community in Nigeria extending such a warm and vibrant welcome! pic.twitter.com/QYfAUOpqRO

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 16, 2024

Prime Minister Modi also praised the Indian community living in Nigeria for remaining connected with their roots, language, and culture. The Prime Minister also interacted with a large number of Indian women, children, and men living in the West African nation and uploaded pictures with them.

In another post, PM Modi tweeted: “In Nigeria, the Marathi community expressed joy at Marathi being conferred the status of a Classical Language. It is truly commendable how they remain connected to their culture and roots.”

The city of Abuja was decked out with posters and hoardings of PM Modi early on Saturday as the Prime Minister emplaned from India for his five-day visit to three nations including Nigeria.

PM Modi arrived in Abuja on Sunday.

Nigeria is the first stop in the PM’s five-day visit to three nations where the head of both nations aims to strengthen the strategic ties.

After his visit to Nigeria from November 16 to 17, PM Modi will be heading to Brazil for the G20 summit.

PM Modi’s final destination is Guyana.

The Indian diaspora expressed their enthusiasm surrounding PM Modi’s maiden visit to Nigeria.

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu personally welcomed PM Modi at Abuja airport on Sunday, highlighting the importance of the visit to strengthen India-Nigeria ties.

Taking to social media platform X, PM Modi thanked President Tinubu.

“Landed a short while ago in Nigeria. Grateful for the warm welcome. May this visit deepen the bilateral friendship between our nations,” PM Modi tweeted.

PM Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the West African nation in 17 years.

“I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his first visit to Nigeria, which is also the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to our dear country since 2007. Our bilateral discussions will seek to expand the strategic partnership between both countries and enhance cooperation in critical sectors. Welcome to Nigeria, PM Modi @narendramodi,” said Nigeria President Tinubu on Sunday.

Invited by Nigeria President Tinubu, PM Modi was warmly received in Abuja by Minister for Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Ezenwo Wike. The Minister presented PM Modi with the Key to the City of Abuja, symbolising trust and honour from the Nigerian people, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

President Tinubu expressed his eagerness to welcome PM Modi, stating that their discussions aim to expand strategic partnerships and enhance cooperation in key sectors.

“Welcome to Nigeria, Prime Minister Modi,” Tinubu said in a post on X.

PM Modi responded with gratitude, sharing images of his arrival and expressing hope for deepening bilateral friendship between India and Nigeria.

PM Modi earlier said, “At the invitation of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it will be my first visit to Nigeria, which is our close partner in the West African region. My visit will be an opportunity to build upon our Strategic Partnership that is based on shared belief in democracy and pluralism. I am also eagerly looking forward to meeting the Indian community and friends from Nigeria who have sent me warm welcome messages in Hindi.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)