PM Modi’s visit to Nigeria was billed by New Delhi as a meeting of the largest democracy in the world and the largest in Africa, “natural partners” as both push for a more central role in world affairs. This visit is the first by an Indian prime minister to Nigeria in 17 years.
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 "India, Nigeria renew strategic ties as both seek greater global influence")
PM Narendra Modi meets Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu in Abuja. Image/X/@narendramodi
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu met to renew what they called the “strategic partnership” between the giants of Asia and Africa on Sunday.
Modi is in Nigeria on the first leg of his three-nation visit at the invitation of President Tinubu. This visit is the first by an Indian prime minister to Nigeria in 17 years. From Abuja, Modi will travel to Brazil to attend the G20 summit. His last destination will be Guyana.
New Delhi views the visit as a meeting between the world’s largest democracy and Africa’s largest democracy, dubbing India and South Africa as “natural partners” as they seek greater global influence.
On his arrival in Nigeria on Sunday, Prime Minister Modi was warmly welcomed by Minister for Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, who presented him with the ‘Key to the City’ of Abuja.
“Our cooperation is very strong and there are many new possibilities as well for us to take our cooperation forward,” Modi said in preliminary remarks as talks got underway. “As we just said, we have always worked together to address challenges such as terrorism, separatism, piracy and drug trafficking.”
Had a very productive discussion with President Tinubu. We talked about adding momentum to our strategic partnership. There is immense scope for ties to flourish even further in sectors like defence, energy, technology, trade, health, education and more. @officialABAT pic.twitter.com/2i4JuF9CkX
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 17, 2024
Nigeria on Sunday conferred its second-highest national award, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, making him the second foreign dignitary to receive the distinction.
“Honoured to be conferred with the ‘Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger’ Award by Nigeria. I accept it with great humility and dedicate it to the people of India,” Modi said in his remarks after receiving the award.
This was the 17th international award conferred on Modi by a country.
Queen Elizabeth is the only foreign dignitary who was awarded GCON in 1969.
Photos posted on Modi’s account showed him arriving late Saturday at Abuja airport to be welcomed by Nigerian officials and a cheering crowd from the country’s 60,000-strong Indian community.
Security Council bids
The visit comes amid a revived push by both India and Nigeria for permanent representation on the United Nations Security Council.
The five permanent members of the top UN body – the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain – hold a powerful veto that they can use to protect their international interests.
In recent years, supporters of a more “multipolar” world have pushed for African, Asian and Latin American countries to be given more senior global roles alongside the older great powers.
In his prepared remarks, Modi alluded to this drive, telling Tinubu “together we will also continue to highlight at a global level the priorities of the Global South.
“And thanks to our joint efforts, we will achieve success as well in this,” he promised.
Nigeria’s 220-million-strong population is comfortably the largest in Africa, but in diplomatic strength it is rivalled by South Africa.
If UN members bow to the pressure to give increased representation to an African country, Abuja and Pretoria could end up competing for the place.
India is the world’s most populous nation – its 1.4 billion people represent a sixth of humanity – and is a nuclear-armed power.
It has long sought a permanent UN Security Council seat.
India is also a member of the nine-strong BRICs group with Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates.
Nigeria is a BRICs “partner country” but has not been given full membership, with some observers accusing South Africa of holding them up.
Economic cooperation
Aside from power politics, Modi’s visit will also seek to enhance economic cooperation, with a number of technical agreements to be signed.
Africa has become a theatre of competition between the United States, former colonial powers from Europe, as well as Russia, Turkey and especially China.
India too has made inroads, and ahead of the trip Modi’s office boasted that more than 200 Indian companies had invested $27 billion in Nigerian manufacturing, becoming major employers.
Nigeria is also a destination for Indian development funds, with $100 million in loans and training programmes for local workers.
With inputs from agencies.