Modi's landmark visit to Nigeria boosts ties

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a historic visit to Nigeria, marking the first visit by an Indian premier to the West African nation in 17 years. During his meeting with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu in Abuja, both leaders agreed to strengthen collaboration in counterterrorism, maritime security, and intelligence sharing.

The summit resulted in commitments to address security challenges in the Gulf of Guinea and Indian Ocean, with both nations pledging coordinated action against piracy and to protect maritime trade routes. The leaders also emphasized their shared stance against terrorism in all forms, including cross-border terrorist movements and financing networks.

The visit highlighted the significant economic ties between the two nations, with bilateral trade reaching $14.9 billion in 2022, making Nigeria India's largest trading partner in Africa. More than 200 Indian companies currently operate in Nigeria, and the country has already secured substantial investment commitments, including a $3 billion pledge from Jindal Steel and Power for Nigeria's steel sector.

President Tinubu honored Modi with the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, Nigeria's second-highest national honor, praising his commitment to democratic values. Modi, who has positioned India as a voice for the Global South, emphasized the importance of highlighting developing nations' priorities at the global level.

The meeting underscored Nigeria's efforts to attract Indian investment and secure favorable credit lines to boost its economy and create jobs. The strengthened partnership spans various sectors, including defense, energy, technology, and trade development.

Following his Nigeria visit, Modi was scheduled to travel to Brazil for the G20 summit.