Why PM Modi’s visit to Nigeria is timely and will take the strategic partnership to a new level

During the PM Modi’s visit, six important agreements were reached which will reinforce the functionality of the Strategic partnership, notes Amb. Anil Trigunayat, a former Indian Ambassador to Jordan, Libya and Malta.
By Anil Trigunayat  

In the modern diplomacy, high level visits play a critical role in creating an exceptional trust. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Nigeria ( Nov 16-17,)  even after a gap of 17 years, is timely. Last bilateral visit was that of former PM Manmohan Singh in 2007 during which I was posted in Nigeria which happened after a gap of 43 years when first PM Nehru had been there.

In 2003, PM Vajpayee had visited Abuja for the CHOGM Summit. With great difficulty we were able to materialize the Prime Ministerial visit. However, during the visit, the Abuja Declaration ‘ was issued identifying the contours and future directions of the relationship which was elevated to a ‘Strategic Partnership” level.

Hence, PM Modi’s visit was to take stock of the strategic partnership performance and to take it to a new level. Keeping with the tradition of being a first responder in times of crisis India sent 20 tonnes of relief supplies for the affected people from the devastating floods.

In fact, India’s relationship with Africa was broadly marked by the absence of high level visits from India. This deficit was bridged quite significantly since PM Modi took over in 2014 when nearly 40 visits of high level dignitaries have taken place to the continent. Most recent was by President Murmu to Algeria, Mauritania and Malawi (October 13-19).

The diplomatic outreach can also be judged by the number of missions in Africa as during my time we were covering 5-6 countries. Now we have opened new missions in 47 countries. High level visits and reciprocal   exchanges play a unique role in modern day diplomacy and confirm  the mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity principle in practice.

While India has been rendering tremendous capacity building assistance since 1960s to the developing countries especially for the African continent while helping them fight the colonial bondage, it appears that our Africa policy was driven in an ad-hoc manner. While large number of African leaders visited India including for the India-Africa Forum Summits their one grouse was the absence of return high level visits from India which fortunately has been addressed to a large extent. 

Another important development was the clear pronouncement of the Ten Guiding Principles by PM Modi in 2018 while addressing the Ugandan Parliament which have become the foundation stone of India’s Africa Policy with the underlying theme that’ Africa is for Africans’.  Nigeria is our important partner in the Global South.

Moreover, India has emerged as a Voice of Global South as is stood with them at all times and fought for their cause be at the WTO, Climate Change Negotiations or for their rightful place in the multinational institutions. During her own Presidency of the G20 in 2023, India made sure that the African Union (AU) with its 55 members becomes a permanent member in effect making it into a G21 which was greatly appreciated by the continent. Nigeria was especially invited for the G20 Summit.

Nigeria has recently become a partner country in the BRICS and currently holds Presidency of ECOWAS and is an important player in Africa and elsewhere.

Nigeria and India can rightfully boast of their democratic credentials in a turbulent world. India has the largest human resource in the world and Nigeria in Africa. Nigeria is also well endowed with hydrocarbons and minerals and agricultural and industrial potential. It also contributes greatly to ECOWAS and AU security establishment as well as UN peacekeeping operations. Both India and Nigeria suffer from terrorist and extremist groups. Hence Counter terrorism cooperation has emerged as the major plank of cooperation.

India has established Nigerian Defence Academy and War college while large number of Nigerians including their Presidents Babangida, Obasanjo and Buhari underwent training in India among score of others. Several defence and security mechanisms have been instituted for enhancing bilateral and regional cooperation and capacity building. Joint exercises and port of calls are common place.

New avenues of cooperation are being identified. Security in the Gulf of Guinea is one such area where maritime cooperation could be of mutual benefit. Energy and food security partnership is equally important with Nigeria usually supplied about 11-12% of crude for India’s requirements.

Hence, during the PM Modi’s visit, six important agreements were reached which will reinforce the functionality of the Strategic partnership. Nigeria is our largest trading partner in Africa.  @00 Indian companies have invested over $ 27 billion in Nigeria. Moreover, $14 billion of investments by Indian companies agreed during the Nigeria-India Business Conference will possibly make India the largest investor in the country.

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To further enhance it, an Economic Cooperation Agreement (ECA); Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) and a Bilateral Investment Treaty have been signed. India have also committed to provide more assistance through Lines of Credit .Long term crude and Energy supply agreements will further enrich the energy security partnership. This will also entail provision for pipeline security for Nigeria’s domestic distribution of CNG and LNG. 

Broadly they also covered areas of culture, geological survey, the digital public infrastructure, customs, traditional medicine, audio-visual cooperation etc. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that India has offered close to $400 million of assistance, but Nigeria has used only $100 million assistance so far for various projects, particularly in the power sector, and $290 million is being repurposed for their own initiatives and their own areas of interest.

 Likewise, apart from reiterating the commitment to enhance and expand the ongoing defence and security cooperation between the two countries India agreed to further modernise Nigerian defence sector through joint manufacturing etc. Health, Education and Agricultural cooperation have been further underlined for greater collaboration. Nigeria extended support to Indian initiative for a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) in accordance with relevant UN conventions and resolutions against terrorism and violent extremism.  Zero tolerance for terrorism was underscored as the joint collaboration will further help fight this menace.

Role of 60,000 enterprising Indian diaspora in Nigeria’s development is well recognised and President Tinubu also appreciated it calling it a “great service’ by them. Many of them are third or fourth generation and blended well in Nigerian society. I recall President Obasanjo often stating that “Indian entrepreneurs are the second employers of Nigerians after the Federal Government.’

PM Modi also addressed the strong Indian diaspora appreciating their role in strengthening this important relationship calling them a ‘Key pillar ‘ in India-Nigeria partnership. In fact an Indian origin Nigerian company of Tolaram Group became the first one to send the consignment to Kenya recently under the AFCFTA ( African Continental Free Trade Agreement ), Likewise we have about 27500 Nigerians in India.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recalled his visit and meeting with PM Modi on the margins of G20 Summit in 2023 and reiterated that Nigeria values its relationship with India while referring to PM Modi’s transformative leadership and governance especially his re-election the third time in a complex society.

In recognition of his commitment to the bilateral relationship and stellar leadership, President Tinubu conferred the second highest National  honour — the Grand Commander of the Order of Niger on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who tweeted “Thank you Nigeria for a productive visit, which will add strength and vigour to India-Nigeria friendship” underscoring that the recognition underscores the Strategic Partnership between the two countries and their shared commitment to the aspirations of the Global South.

PM Modi underscored that; “We will together keep raising the priorities of the Global South on the world stage and there will be success through our joint efforts”. Common challenges need consistent synergy and focussed efforts which was evident during the interactions and the outcome.

“We have worked together to tackle challenges such as terrorism, separatism, piracy and drug trafficking and we will continue doing so with greater strength in the future

High level exchanges are extremely important in the African context hence the visit of PM Modi was reassuring and substantive to our Nigerian friends.

—The author, Amb. Anil Trigunayat, is a former Indian Ambassador to Jordan, Libya and Malta, and currently heads the West Asia Experts Group at Vivekananda International Foundation. Views expressed are personal.