The visit will build on a defence industry delegation’s trip to Lagos earlier this year to explore business opportunities following the Nigerian President’s interest in purchasing arms from India, they said.
Nigeria’s military leadership has been trained in India for decades and the two sides have forged closer defence ties in recent years, the people said.
PM Modi on Saturday said in a statement ahead of his departure to Nigeria, “At the invitation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, this will be my first visit to Nigeria, which is our close partner in the West African region. My visit will be an opportunity to build upon our strategic partnership that is based on shared belief in democracy and pluralism.”
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The visit comes at a time when India is emerging as a key defence supplier to Africa, with sales to Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Tanzania and Mozambique. State-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has offered its indigenous Prachand Attack light combat helicopters to Nigeria.
Besides HAL, the mega delegation to Nigeria included leading defence public sector undertakings and private companies. These included Bharat Electronics, Bharat Earth Movers, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, Goa Shipyards, Advanced Weapons and Equipment India, L&T, Bharat Forge and MKU Limited.
The contingent highlighted India’s commitment to exploring new partnership avenues and enhancing defence collaboration with Nigeria. The two countries have strengthened their naval cooperation, particularly in the Gulf of Guinea, a region critical for maintaining international trade routes.
The Indian Navy Ship Sumedha made a port call in Lagos in October 2023 to enhance maritime security and combat piracy. During the visit, representatives from both maritime agencies engaged in training activities, professional interactions and planning conferences to improve interoperability.
Naval collaboration between the two sides includes joint exercises, information sharing and maritime partnership exercises, aimed at ensuring the safety of maritime trade routes in the region.
This partnership underscores the shared commitment of India and Nigeria to enhancing maritime security and supporting each other’s naval capabilities, said the people cited earlier.
There are also ongoing military training exchanges and collaborative initiatives under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme.
