External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held talks with his Nigerian counterpart Geoffrey Onyeama on Tuesday via videoconferencing and discussed an array of issues related to political, economic, defence, developmental assistance and cultural cooperation.
India is Nigeria’s biggest trade partner and the latter is India’s largest trading partner in the African continent with a bilateral trade turnover of USD 13.9 billion in 2019-20. Both sides decided to expand cooperation in Information Technology (IT), Defense and solar energy projects to be executed through the Indian Line of Credit (LoC). The armed forces of both nations are to work together to combat piracy, insurgency and terrorism and enhance surveillance in the Gulf of Guinea for maritime security. For defence training and capacity building, both nations also agreed to venture into newer areas such as defence equipment support, medical and maintenance services, sharing of research and development expertise.
Thank you FM @GeoffreyOnyeama of #Nigeria for a comprehensive review of ties with a key partner in Africa. Agreed to expedite initiatives in defence, trade, energy and consular matters. Will work closely on regional and international issues. pic.twitter.com/tSoyUitVI6
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 1, 2020
Further, both sides agreed to cooperate on Mutual Legal Assistance, Extradition Treaty and the Transfer of Sentenced Persons.
Nigeria thanked India for the medical supplies sent by India to tackle COVID-19 and India expressed gratitude for the safe release of 44 Indian seafarers who were held hostage by pirates in the Gulf of Guinea.