By Ndudirim Sylvia Iloka
Nigeria and India have reaffirmed their commitment to expanding diplomatic, economic, and security cooperation ahead of the upcoming BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the India-Africa Forum Summit scheduled for May 2026 in New Delhi.
The renewed partnership was highlighted during a high-level meeting in Abuja between Nigeria’s Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dunoma Umar Ahmed, and India’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Abhishek Singh.
During the discussions, the Indian envoy briefed Nigerian officials on preparations for the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting set for May 14–15 at the Bharat Mandapam Conference Centre in New Delhi, alongside plans for the India-Africa Forum Summit later in the month.
Singh described Nigeria as a key BRICS partner and one of Africa’s most influential nations, emphasizing its strategic importance in India’s engagement with the continent. He expressed optimism that both countries would deepen cooperation across critical sectors including trade, renewable energy, agriculture, defence, industrialisation, and technology.
The envoy also pointed to ongoing collaborations under the International Solar Alliance and the Africa Solar Facility, revealing plans for increased renewable energy investments and broader development partnerships in Nigeria.
Responding, Ambassador Ahmed praised the long-standing ties between both nations, describing Nigeria and India as strategic allies bound by democratic values, South-South cooperation, and shared goals for sustainable development.
He noted that the forthcoming BRICS and India-Africa engagements present an important opportunity for developing nations to strengthen multilateral cooperation amid shifting global economic and political dynamics.
Ahmed further reiterated Nigeria’s interest in attracting greater Indian investment into sectors such as manufacturing, mining, agriculture, renewable energy, and local industrial development.
On security matters, the Permanent Secretary stressed the need for stronger collaboration in counter-terrorism efforts, particularly through technological support and defence capacity building.
