Abuja: Amb. Dunoma Ahmed, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation with India. Ahmed stated this during a meeting with the High Commissioner of India to Nigeria, Abhishek Singh, at the Ministry’s Headquarters on Thursday in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, a statement issued by Kimiebi Ebienfa, the ministry’s spokesman, noted that Ahmed expressed appreciation to Singh for the cordial relations between Nigeria and India. He highlighted that cooperation between both countries would focus on deepening ties ahead of the India-Africa Forum Summit scheduled to be held in New Delhi in May 2026.
Ahmed remarked that both countries are strategic partners united by shared democratic values and common aspirations for sustainable development and South-South cooperation. He emphasized the importance of the forthcoming BRICS and India-Africa Forum engagements in advancing multilateral cooperation among developing countries in light of evolving global political and economic realities.
Furthermore, Ahmed reiterated Nigeria’s interest in increased Indian investments in key sectors of the economy, particularly manufacturing, agriculture, mining, renewable energy, and local value addition. He also stressed the need for strengthened collaboration in security and counter-terrorism, especially through technological cooperation and defence capacity building.
Earlier, Singh briefed Ahmed about preparations for the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting scheduled for May 14 to 15 at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Meanwhile, the India-Africa Forum Summit is expected to convene African leaders and senior officials later in the month.
Singh stated that Nigeria, as a BRICS partner country and a major stakeholder in Africa, occupies a strategic place in India’s foreign policy engagement with the continent. He added that the Government of India looks forward to Nigeria’s active participation at the meetings and in deepening cooperation between both countries in areas of trade, renewable energy, defence, industrialisation, agriculture, and technology.
Moreover, Singh highlighted ongoing initiatives under the International Solar Alliance and Africa Solar Facility, which include proposed renewable energy investments and enhanced developmental partnerships with Nigeria.