India, Nigeria to expand cooperation in defence, IT and solar energy sectors

02 Septembre 2020

Abuja, Nigeria, September 2 (Infosplusgabon) – Nigeria and India have agreed to maintain the momentum in strengthening “excellent ties” for their mutual benefit.

In a communique released on Wednesday in Abuja following a virtual meeting between their Foreign ministers, Dr. S. Jaishankar (Indai) and Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama (Nigeria), they agreed to expand cooperation in Information Technology (IT), Defence and solar energy projects to be executed through Indian Line of Credit (LoC).

In addition, both parties reiterated their commitment to conclude pending Memorandum of Understandings (MoU’s) /Agreements between the two countries expeditiously, just as they expressed satisfaction with the signing of an MoU on Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Outer Space last month.

According to the communique, “during the interaction, the two ministers recognised and acknowledged the excellent long standing, multifaceted and strategic bilateral ties between the two counties, based on mutual friendship and cooperation.

India being the largest democracy in the world and Nigeria the largest democracy in Africa, share the values of pluralism, inclusiveness and sustainable development for all.

“The discussions covered a wide spectrum of cooperation on political, economic and trade, defence and security, developmental assistance and cultural cooperation. Both sides recalled their extensive cooperation in the field of defence training and capacity building, and expressed satisfaction that it was expanding to new areas such as defence equipment support, medical and maintenance services, sharing of R&D expertise for counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency, and regular exchange of information/views.

The two ministers noted that the next meeting of the Joint Defence Cooperation Committee will be held later this year in Abuja.

“The two ministers acknowledged ongoing collaborative efforts through information sharing between the Indian and Nigerian navies and increase of surveillance for maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, though collaboration between Indian and Nigerian navies. The ministers urged the armed forces of both countries, to continue to work together in the ongoing efforts to counter terrorism, insurgency and piracy.

“With a bilateral trade turnover of US$ 13.9 billion in 2019-20, India is Nigeria’s largest trading partner, and Nigeria is India’s largest trading partner in Africa. Despite the Covid-19 challenge, bilateral trade has remained steady which shows the resilience of our trade-economic linkages. Nigeria is a leading energy security partner of India, and both sides agreed to strengthen their cooperation in this sector including at Government to Government level.

“The Nigerian side expressed appreciation to India for the recent donation of medical supplies in support of the ongoing fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and recalled Nigerian participation in recent E-Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation(ITEC) programmes in COVID management organised by the Indian government under the ITEC programme.

“Both sides commended the first Consular dialogue between the two countries held in September 2019. Both parties agreed to continue to strategise on the follow-up actions towards the implementation of the outcomes of the meeting that will be of mutual benefit.

“The two sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation in Consular matters and the desire to conclude on bilateral agreements in the field of Mutual Legal Assistance, Extradition Treaty and the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. Both sides recognized that such cooperation will also help in strengthening business, medical tourism and education related travel and exchanges between the two countries.

“Both sides thanked each other for facilitating essential travel by their respective citizens and residents over the last two months, including the return of over 5800 Indian nationals to India on 23 flights from Nigeria, and over 500 Nigerian and 1500 permanent Indian residents on 8 flights from India. In this context, they look forward to the operationalization of direct flights between the two countries by the two designated carriers approved by both countries.

“Dr. Jaishankar thanked Mr. Onyeama for Nigeria’s support for the safe release of 44 Indian seafarers taken hostage in three separate incidents of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea during 2019. India had participated in the G7 plus Friends of Gulf of Guinea (G7++FoGG) online meeting last month, and has extended its maritime security training programs to Nigeria.

“As large developing countries, both sides have similar approaches and shared agendas on international issues. They agreed to continue and further strengthen their cooperation and mutual support in multilateral fora including the UN and WTO. They emphasized that terrorism is a scourge and a threat to the entire world, and condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including violent extremism."

FIN/ INFOSPLUSGABON/TFG/GABON2020

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