By Gabriel Ameh
ABUJA — India has identified pharmaceuticals, agriculture, digital public infrastructure, defence, skills development and food security as key areas for expanding its development partnership with Nigeria.
India’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, H.E. Abhishek Singh, disclosed this at a media meet in Abuja, saying India’s development assistance is focused on sharing areas of strength that align with Nigeria’s own development priorities.
Singh said India has already extended concessional lines of credit valued at $395 million to Nigeria and continues to provide capacity-building opportunities through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme, popularly known as ITEC.
He explained that Nigerians benefit from training opportunities in areas including auditing, teaching, rural development, electrification and defence.
According to him, about 100 Nigerian participants are involved annually in various ITEC opportunities, including members of the Nigerian Defence Forces.
The High Commissioner said India’s pharmaceutical industry remains an important component of bilateral cooperation, noting that India is one of the world’s major exporters of pharmaceutical products to Nigeria.
He also identified agricultural mechanisation and food security as emerging areas of cooperation.
Singh said India’s experience in digital public infrastructure could also support Nigeria’s digital transformation priorities.
He described India as having transformed from a global back-office destination into a major laboratory for digital public infrastructure capable of connecting more than one billion citizens.
The High Commissioner said India was willing to share its experience with Nigeria in digital technology, agriculture, healthcare and other areas.
He added that cooperation in space applications and climate-resilient development was also gaining importance.
On security, Singh said India and Nigeria were collaborating in counter-terrorism, defence training and maritime security, particularly in the Gulf of Guinea.
He said defence sales were also an important component of the bilateral relationship.
According to him, India’s growing cooperation with Nigeria is based on complementarity, with both countries bringing different strengths and experiences to the partnership.
Singh stressed that India’s development approach was not simply about offering what it could do but about identifying areas that correspond with Nigeria’s priorities.
He said India was prepared to work with Nigeria on areas capable of generating practical benefits for citizens and strengthening economic development.
The High Commissioner also pointed to the Indian community in Nigeria as another important pillar of bilateral relations.
He estimated that about 60,000 Indians live in Nigeria, with many being second- and third-generation residents.
Singh said the community has contributed to the educational, cultural, medical and commercial relationship between India and Nigeria.
He expressed optimism that the expanding cooperation would create new opportunities for investment, technology transfer, capacity building and people-to-people exchanges.
“It’s a win-win relationship,” Singh said, describing the partnership as one founded on trust, understanding and mutual respect.
