India–Nigeria relations

Indo-Nigerian relations

India	Nigeria

The bilateral relations between the Republic of India and the Federal Republic of Nigeria have considerably expanded in recent years with both nations building strategic and commercial ties. India became the fifth biggest global economy in year 2019 overtaking UK and France. India has a High Commission in Abuja and a Consulate in Lagos. The present High Commissioner of India to Nigeria is H.E Mr Abhay Thakur. Nigeria has a High Commission in New Delhi and the present Nigerian High Commissioner to India is H E Major General Chris Sunday Eze.

India was Nigeria's biggest crude oil importer (2012 - 2013) but with rapid rise of the Indian economy that ranks fifth largest after China, USA, Japan and Germany that resulted in higher demand of crude oil. India now import oil closer to home from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran and UAE with Nigeria's share being 7.4% of oil import in year 2019. Since year 2018 India buys cheaper Basra Oil from Iraq and the crude oil purchased from West Africa including from Nigeria rank fifth in India's crude oil imports.

Background

India's relation with Africa date back to 30BCE when there was trade between Egypt under Roman Emperor Augustus and India. Up to 120 Roman ships would set sail each year from Myos Hormos (Al-Qusayr) in Roman Egypt to India. At the same period Indian dhows frequented East African sea shores selling Indian handloom, spices and goods. Later Indians were brought to East Africa by the British to build East African Railways. India gained her Independence in 1947. Nigeria followed and gained independence in 1960. India strongly supported independence of African countries from colonial rule and established its diplomatic mission in 1958 – two years before Nigeria officially gained independence from British rule. Soon after Nigerian independence Indian government was involved in help set up military and several other projects in Nigeria. India aided Nigeria on building military establishments like the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) at Kaduna and the Naval College at Port Harcourt and some other military training sites in Nigeria. Added several Nigerian military personnel attended the Defences Services Staff College (DSSC) in Wellington, Tamil Nadu, India. The present Nigerian President Muhammudu Buhari attended the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) at Wellington in 1970s The other Nigerian Presidents who attended the same college are Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo (1965) and Ibrahim Babangida (1964). Few other top Nigerian military officers also attended India's Defence Services Staff College. Also on Nigeria gaining independence big Indian businesses set up their shop in Nigeria. Both nations possess diverse natural and economic resources and are the largest economies in their respective regions. Both are members of the Commonwealth of Nations. Currently India's concessional line of credit to Africa is almost $9 billion, with current projects taking up $7.4 billion. Over 25,000 African students including Nigerian avail Indian scholarships, besides India sent a grant of $10 million to UN to fight Ebola and another $2 million bilaterally to Guinea to tackle the disease.

Development of bilateral relations

India's first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's visited Nigeria in September 1962 to meet Nigeria's first Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa. Two Nigerian Presidents were Chief Guests at India's Republic Day i.e. in 1983 by President Shehu Shagari and in 2000 at India's 50th Republic Day celebrations was President Olusegun. Nigerian leaders regularly visited India with President Obasanjo in November 2004, Vice President Goodluck Jonathan in November 2007 and also at the first India-Africa Forum Summit held in New Delhi in April 2008. During the State visit to Nigeria by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in October 2007, India and Nigeria adopted the Abuja Declaration for Strategic Partnership. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari was in New Delhi in October 2015 to participate in the Third India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-III) held in New Delhi and attended by 50 African nations. The meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Buhari enabled the two nations to review their bilateral relations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced $600m (£393m) in assistance for development projects in Africa at a India-Africa Forum Summit in Delhi. PM Modi announce a concessional credit of $10 billion to Africa that included Nigeria and 50000 scholarships to African students at the India-Africa Forum Summit in 2015.

Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari visited Nigeria from 26 to 29 September 2016 and met with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo that gave both sides another opportunity to deepen their bilateral cooperation and friendship. In year 2019 Senator Hadi Abubakar Sirika, Minister of State (Aviation) of Nigeria visited India from 14 to 15 January 2019 to attend the Global Aviation Summit, that was held in Mumbai, India on 15 January 2019. On the side lines of the summit, Senator Hadi Abubakar Sirika met with Mr. Suresh Prabhu, Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation of India. According to News Agency of Nigeria as part of plan to combat COVID-19 India donated $50 million worth of essential medicines in July 2020 to Nigeria and other African countries. The seven tonnes of Indian consignments (586 cartoons) for Nigeria were received by Nigeria's Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire.

Commerce

India- Nigeria trade in 2018-19 amounted to US$13.89 billion. Indian firms are the second biggest employer in Nigeria after the Nigerian Federal Government. More than 135 Indian firms operate in Nigeria. Indian firm in Nigeria are in greatly diverse fields e.g. pharmaceuticals, engineering goods, electrical machinery and equipment, plastics, chemicals, etc. Some of the major companies include Bharti Airtel, Tata, Bajaj Auto, Birla Group, Kirloskar, Mahindra, Ashok Leyland, Skipper, Godrej, Simba Group, NIIT, Aptech, New India Assurance, Bhushan Steel, KEC, Dabur, etc. Indian investment in Nigeria amounts to US$15 billion and rising according to the Indian High Commission in Abuja, Nigeria. Indian exports to Nigeria during the period 2018-19 were US$3 billion and India's imports from Nigeria during same period 2018-19 was worth US$10.88 billion. Nigeria has emerged as the fifth largest supplier of crude oil and second largest supplier of LNG in 2018. Indian exports to Nigeria are Pharmaceuticals, automobiles, cars, iron and steel, rice, plastics, clothes and fabrics, engineering equipment, and power sector components such as transformers, insulators and circuit breaker etc.

Oil trade

Nigeria was the largest African crude oil supplier to India in year 2012–2013. India now import crude oil closer to home from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran and UAE with Nigeria's share being 7.4% in year 2019. Since year 2018 India buys cheaper Basra Oil from Iraq and the crude oil purchased from West Africa including from Nigeria rank fifth in India's crude oil imports. annually.

Cultural relations

Over 55,000 Nigerians live in India, while estimated 35,000 Indians reside in Nigeria.

India has a population of 1.3 billion while Nigeria 190 million. There is frequent contact and visits between leaders of both countries at the highest level. Nigerian students started coming to India for higher education in year 1955 that was followed by the Indian Council for Cultural programmes awarding scholarship that fully funded Nigerian Students to study in India from 1960 onwards The government of India launched a 'Study in India' portal in March 2018 to encourage deserving and bright student to study in India. In the 1970s- 1980s period there were Indian teachers, doctors, nurses and similar personnel working in Nigeria. An Indian 'Namaste Nigeria' cultural event was celebrated in Abuja on 5 May 2018 to which Nigerian Princess Ginika Nwafor-Orizu, Chief Cultural Officer and Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, Director General, Nigerian National Council were the Chief Guests. The Indian Cultural Association (ICA) holds functions in Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna, Kano and Ibadan. There is an Indian Language School in Lagos, for Indian language learning. There are over 55000 Nigerians living and working in India. Nigerians reside in cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Goa, Hyderabad and Jaipur. Neither the Indian police nor the Nigerian High Commission in New Delhi have the figure on the number of Nigerians residing in India today or on the jobs Nigerians do in India. Few Nigerians have married locals and settled in India. Illegal immigration to India and criminal activities are major issues.