India has pledged to strengthen bilateral relations with Nigeria across key sectors including trade, energy, defence, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and technology, as both countries seek to deepen cooperation rooted in shared democratic values.
The Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Amb. Abhishek Singh, made the pledge late Monday in Abuja during India’s 77th Republic Day Reception, where he highlighted India’s development progress and expanding engagement with Nigeria.
Singh said India’s commitment to Nigeria was driven by a shared vision of inclusive growth and South–South cooperation, noting that India had invested nearly 27 billion dollars in Nigeria. He said cooperation had continued to expand in areas such as defence, energy, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and information technology.
According to him, India’s recent economic growth of 7.4 per cent and advances in digital public infrastructure demonstrated its capacity to contribute meaningfully to global partnerships.
Singh added that Nigeria and India shared similarities as multi-ethnic and multi-religious democracies with youthful populations and strong development ambitions, expressing optimism about the future of bilateral relations.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dunoma Ahmed, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening ties with India, describing the relationship as grounded in shared history, democratic ideals and collective aspirations.
Also speaking, the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, emphasised the importance of cultural exchange and creative collaboration, particularly between Nollywood and Bollywood, in strengthening people-to-people relations.
The Minister of State for Finance, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, noted that Indian investments had contributed significantly to Nigeria’s economic diversification, job creation and skills transfer, while acknowledging the Indian community as valued partners in national development.
The event featured cultural performances, including Nigerian traditional dances, to commemorate India’s 77th Republic Day celebration in Abuja.