Nigeria and India have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, defence cooperation and collaboration among countries of the Global South.
The commitment was reiterated during a courtesy visit by participants of the 66th Course of India’s National Defence College to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja.
Receiving the delegation led by Ms Anvita Sinha, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dunoma Umar Ahmed, described the relationship between both countries as longstanding and cordial, founded on shared democratic values, historical ties, growing economic engagement and cooperation in regional and multilateral affairs.
Ahmed said the visit provided an opportunity to deepen mutual understanding and expand cooperation in defence, security, capacity building, technology transfer and sustainable development.
He expressed Nigeria’s appreciation for India’s support in military training, professional development and defence cooperation, noting that the partnership had contributed to institutional capacity building and regional security.
Discussions during the meeting focused on Nigeria’s foreign policy priorities, regional security challenges, global geopolitical developments and opportunities for enhanced cooperation between the two countries.
The Permanent Secretary emphasised the importance of stronger collaboration among developing nations and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to South-South cooperation through platforms such as BRICS and other multilateral arrangements.
He also highlighted Nigeria’s role in advancing the objectives of the African Union Agenda 2063, promoting regional peace and security, supporting infrastructure development and driving economic integration across Africa.
The meeting further explored opportunities for cooperation in counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing, border management, professional military education and the use of emerging technologies to address evolving security threats.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Colonel Manoj, India’s Defence Adviser to Nigeria, expressed appreciation for the reception and discussions.
He commended the enduring relationship between Nigeria and India and expressed confidence that continued engagement would further strengthen bilateral ties and contribute to global peace, security and development.
