Outcome of the Prime Minister Modi's Visit to Nigeria

In the first leg of his three-nation tour of Nigeria, Brazil, and Guyana, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on a two-day official visit to the African country of Nigeria on 16 & 17 November 2024. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was visiting for the first time after becoming the Prime Minister of India.

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu welcomed him to the Nigerian Capital, Abuja, where both leaders held talks on bilateral, regional, and national issues. After the end of his Nigerian visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew to Brazil on the second leg of his tour. He will participate in the 19th G 20 Summit Meeting hosted by Brazilian President Lula De Silva in Brazil.

The following are the main outcomes/ highlights of Prime Minister Modi's trip to Nigeria.

After 17 years an Indian PM in Nigeria 

After 17 years, an Indian Prime visited Nigeria. Dr Manmohan Singh visited Nigeria in October 2007. He is the fourth Indian Prime Minister to visit Nigeria- JawaharLal Nehru (1962), Atal Bihari Vajpayee (2003), Dr Manmohan Singh(2007).

Modi Honoured with Nigeria’s second Highest Award 

Narendra Modi was honoured with Nigeria’s second-highest award Grand Commander of the Order of Niger. The award was conferred by the Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a ceremony in the capital, Abuja.

After Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom, Narendra Modi is the second foreign dignitary to receive the award.  Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom was conferred the award in 1969. 

Prime Minister Modi was honoured for his role in contributing to strengthening India-Nigeria ties.

List of the Foreign Governments awards for Narendra Modi

Three MoUs signed between India and Nigeria 

During the Prime Minister's visit, three Memoranda of Understanding were signed between India and Nigeria.

These MoUs are ;

• Cultural Exchange Programme, 
• Customs Cooperation and 
• Survey Cooperation 

India Nigeria Relations 

Nigeria is the most populous and largest country in terms of area in Africa.

Even before Nigeria’s independence in 1960, India established its Diplomatic House in the then-Nigerian capital city of Lagos.

India and Nigeria share warm bilateral ties. Dr Manmohan Singh's visit to Nigeria in 2007, the relationship was elevated to a Strategic Partnership..

Two Nigerian Presidents visited India as the Chief Guests at India’s Republic Day, President Shehu Shagari in 1983 and President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2000 at India’s 50th Republic Day celebrations. 

Trade Relation 

It is India's largest trading partner in Africa.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian companies are the largest employment provider in Nigeria after the Nigerian Government. 

More than 135 Indian companies operate in Nigeria in engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, plastics, electrical machinery and equipment, and chemicals sectors.

Defence 

India has helped establish various military institutions in Nigeria, including the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) at Kaduna, the Naval College at Port 5 Harcourt, and other elite military training establishments.

About Nigeria 

It is located on the western coast of Africa along the Atlantic Ocean.

Nigeria, a member of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), is the largest exporter of crude oil in Africa.

Nigeria was the seventh-largest supplier of crude petroleum oil in 2023-24.

Capital: Abuja 

Currency: Nigerian naira

President:  Bola Ahmed Tinubu