Nigeria and India are deepening their strategic partnership across trade, investment, defence, energy, healthcare, agriculture and technology, with bilateral trade rising to about $9 billion in the 2025–26 financial year.
India’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Abhishek Singh, disclosed this during a media interaction with diplomatic correspondents in Abuja.
Singh said bilateral trade increased from $7.13 billion recorded in 2024–25, reflecting the growing economic importance of relations between Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, and India, one of the world’s major emerging economic powers.
“India-Nigeria relations are no longer defined only by historical goodwill or oil trade,” Singh said.
He said the relationship had evolved into a multidimensional strategic partnership covering security, digital technology, food security, healthcare, agriculture and global governance.
Indian companies create jobs in Nigeria
More than 200 Indian companies currently operate in Nigeria, with investments spanning pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, power, construction, consumer goods and healthcare, according to Singh.
He said several companies had moved beyond importing Indian products to establishing factories and production facilities in Nigeria.
Their investments have created employment opportunities for nearly 100,000 Nigerians, he added.
Singh said the growing presence of Indian businesses reflected confidence in Nigeria’s large consumer market and long-term economic prospects.
He said the investments could also promote technology transfer, skills development, industrialisation and the integration of Nigerian businesses into international value chains.
Energy remains key area of cooperation
Energy security remains a major pillar of the relationship, with crude oil and liquefied natural gas continuing to play significant roles in bilateral trade.
However, Singh said cooperation was expanding into areas including petroleum investments, pipeline security, compressed natural gas conversion and liquefied petroleum gas infrastructure.
“This is all the more reason that the two great democracies, India and Nigeria, should cooperate more in the field of energy security,” he said.
He said stronger cooperation could help both countries address their energy challenges while creating opportunities for investment and technology exchange.
Nigeria, India deepen defence cooperation
Defence and maritime security are also becoming increasingly important to the partnership.
Singh said military cooperation between the two countries dated back several decades, recalling India’s contribution to Nigeria’s defence institutions, including support for the National Defence Academy in Kaduna and the Naval College in Port Harcourt.
He said Nigeria and India faced common threats including terrorism, violent extremism, piracy, organised crime and illicit trafficking.
Bilateral security cooperation therefore includes intelligence sharing, counter-terrorism, military training and maritime security, particularly in the Gulf of Guinea.
Singh disclosed that a Nigerian naval delegation was scheduled to visit India for bilateral discussions.
He said defence equipment and sales were also areas where the two countries could further strengthen cooperation.
India provides $395m development support
The High Commissioner said India’s development partnership with Nigeria had produced tangible results, including $395 million in concessional lines of credit.
He also highlighted training provided to Nigerians through India’s Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme.
Nigerians have received training in areas including auditing, teaching, rural development and electrification, while members of the Nigerian Armed Forces continue to receive training at Indian defence institutions.
Singh said future cooperation would focus on areas including affordable medicines, Digital Public Infrastructure, agriculture, skills development, food security, climate-resilient development and space applications.
He said agricultural cooperation could help Nigeria improve food production, mechanisation and resilience to climate-related challenges.
Tinubu, Modi visits boost bilateral relations
Singh attributed the recent momentum in bilateral relations to increased high-level political engagement between Abuja and New Delhi.
He recalled President Bola Tinubu’s visit to India in 2023 during the country’s G20 presidency, when the African Union was admitted as a full member of the G20.
The engagement was followed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Nigeria, the first by an Indian prime minister in about 17 years.
According to Singh, Modi and Tinubu discussed trade and investment, defence, energy, agriculture, healthcare, education, technology and security.
Nigeria also conferred its highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), on Modi during the visit.
Singh further recalled other high-level engagements, including the participation of India’s Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, at Tinubu’s inauguration.
Tinubu invited to BRICS summit
Looking ahead, Singh said India was seeking stronger Nigerian participation in major global economic and political platforms, particularly BRICS.
He disclosed that Tinubu had been invited to attend the BRICS Leaders’ Summit scheduled for September in New Delhi, expressing hope that the Nigerian president would attend with a high-powered delegation.
India assumed the BRICS chairmanship in 2026, with the summit expected to focus on global challenges, economic cooperation and engagement with partner countries.
Singh said Nigeria’s participation would be significant because of its position as Africa’s largest economy and one of the world’s most populous countries.
Nigeria backs India’s UN Security Council bid
Singh also disclosed that Nigeria had conveyed support for India’s campaign for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, while India had expressed support for Nigeria’s candidacy.
India is promoting its campaign under the banner “SHANTI” – Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust and Integrity.
Singh said India supported reform of the UN Security Council, including expansion of both permanent and non-permanent membership.
He said the mutual support reflected the countries’ shared interest in reforming global governance institutions and giving the Global South greater representation.
Singh estimated that about 60,000 Indians currently live in Nigeria, many of them second- and third-generation residents.
He praised the Nigerian government and people for providing an environment where members of the Indian community could establish businesses, raise families and contribute to national development.
The High Commissioner described the community as an important bridge between Nigeria and India in commerce, education, healthcare and culture.
He said many members of the community regarded India as their motherland while considering Nigeria their fatherland.
