Nigeria and India have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, with a renewed focus on defence cooperation, capacity building, and broader strategic collaboration following a high-level engagement in Abuja.
The reaffirmation came during a courtesy visit by participants of the 66th Course of the National Defence College, New Delhi, India, led by Ms Anvita Sinha, as part of a foreign study tour aimed at gaining deeper insights into Nigeria’s socio-economic development, foreign policy direction, security landscape, and broader strategic outlook.
The delegation was received at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja by the Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Dunoma Umar Ahmed.
Welcoming the visitors, Ambassador Ahmed reaffirmed the longstanding and cordial relations between Nigeria and India, noting that the partnership is anchored on shared democratic values, historical friendship, growing economic ties, and cooperation within regional and multilateral institutions.
He said the visit provided an important platform to strengthen mutual understanding and expand cooperation in key areas, including defence, security, capacity building, technology transfer, and sustainable development.
Ahmed also expressed Nigeria’s appreciation for India’s longstanding support in military training, professional development, and defence cooperation, describing it as critical to strengthening institutional capacity and promoting regional security.
During the interactive session, discussions focused on Nigeria’s foreign policy priorities, evolving global geopolitical developments, regional security challenges, and prospects for enhanced bilateral cooperation.
The Permanent Secretary also stressed the need for stronger collaboration among countries of the Global South, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to South-South cooperation through platforms such as BRICS and other multilateral arrangements aimed at advancing the collective interests of developing nations.
The visit underscored both countries’ shared commitment to deepening bilateral engagement and exploring new opportunities for strategic cooperation.