PM Modi holds talks with Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, reviews strategic partnership between 2 countries

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu held talks at the Presidential Villa in Abuja today.

Both leaders reviewed the strategic partnership between the two countries and discussed further avenues to enhance the bilateral relationship. Prime Minister termed the discussions as productive.

He said they talked about adding momentum to the strategic partnership.

PM Modi said there is immense scope for ties to flourish even further in sectors like defence, energy, technology, trade, health, education and more.

Sharing his remarks during delegation-level talks with President Tinubu, Prime Minister Modi said India accords high priority to its strategic partnership with Nigeria.

He cited defence, energy, technology, health, education and culture as areas of cooperation between India and Nigeria.

Prime Minister said both nations have been working together to deal with challenges like terrorism and piracy.

Prime Minister thanked the Nigerian President for deciding to honour him with Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, GCON. Mr Modi stated that this is an honour which is not just for him, but for all Indians. He added that this is a testament to the age old ties between India and Nigeria.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi noted that an Indian Prime Minister is visiting Nigeria after seventeen years. He expressed happiness that he got the opportunity to visit Nigeria in his third term.

He said India is sending 20 tonnes of humanitarian aid to support Nigeria in its flood relief efforts. He congratulated Nigeria for becoming a partner country of BRICS.

PM Modi expressed confidence that India and Nigeria will bring the issues affecting Global South in front of the rest of the world.

Several Memorandum of Agreement, MoUs were exchanged following the talks in the presence of Prime Minister Modi and President Tinubu.

Earlier, PM Modi received a ceremonial welcome at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Prime Minister has been conferred with the ‘Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger’ Award by Nigeria. In his speech, Mr Modi said he accepts the honour with great humility and dedicated it to the people of India.

Prime Minister Modi reached Abuja last night on a two-day visit to Nigeria. He was given a rousing welcome upon arrival.

Prime Minister was presented with the ‘Key to the City’ of Abuja. The key symbolises the trust and honour bestowed on Prime Minister by the people of Nigeria.

The Marathi community in Nigeria thanked Mr Modi for according classical language status to Marathi.

Prime Minister Modi will travel to the Brazilian city of Rio De Janeiro later in the evening on a two-day trip to attend the G20 Summit hosted by President Luis Inacio Lula Da Silva.

India, along with Brazil and South Africa, is part of the G20 Troika and has been actively contributing to the discussions on the G20 Summit.

During the event, Prime Minister Modi will present India’s positions on various global issues and build on the outcomes of the G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration, as well as the Voice of the Global South Summits hosted by India in recent years.

PM Modi is also expected to meet several leaders on the sidelines of the G20 Summit.

On the third and final leg, Prime Minister Modi will undertake a state visit to Guyana from the 19th to the 21st of November.