By Gabriel Ameh
Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening defence diplomacy and expanding strategic cooperation with India as both countries intensify efforts to deepen bilateral relations under the South–South cooperation framework.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dunoma Ahmed, gave the assurance during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the 66th Course of the National Defence College, New Delhi, India, led by Ms. Anvita Sinha, in Abuja.
The delegation is in Nigeria on a study tour aimed at gaining deeper understanding of the country’s socio-economic development, foreign policy direction, security challenges, and strategic priorities.
Ambassador Ahmed described Nigeria and India as long-standing partners with shared democratic values and historical ties, noting that both countries continue to expand cooperation in defence, economic development, and multilateral engagements.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s strong commitment to its strategic partnership with India, particularly in areas such as military training, capacity building, and security cooperation.
According to him, the visit provides an important platform to strengthen collaboration in defence, security, technology transfer, professional training, and sustainable development initiatives.
He also commended India’s consistent support in military education and training for Nigerian personnel, describing it as a key contributor to institutional strengthening and regional security enhancement.
Discussions during the meeting focused on Nigeria’s foreign policy priorities, evolving global geopolitical dynamics, regional security concerns, and opportunities for enhanced bilateral cooperation between both countries.
Ambassador Ahmed further emphasized the importance of solidarity among Global South nations, reiterating Nigeria’s commitment to advancing South–South cooperation through platforms such as BRICS and other international frameworks aimed at promoting equitable global development.
He highlighted Nigeria’s leadership role in Africa, particularly in advancing the African Union’s Agenda 2063, strengthening regional peace and security mechanisms, improving infrastructure development, and supporting economic integration across the continent.
Both countries explored new areas of cooperation including counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing, border security management, professional military education, and the use of emerging technologies to address evolving security threats.
Ambassador Ahmed reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to deepen engagement with India across these sectors for mutual benefit and shared strategic interests.
In his remarks, the Indian Defence Adviser to Nigeria, Colonel Manoj, appreciated the warm reception and constructive discussions, noting the enduring strength of Nigeria–India relations.
He expressed confidence that continued dialogue and collaboration would further strengthen bilateral ties and contribute to global peace, security, and sustainable development.
Both nations reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation across diplomacy, defence, security, education, technology, and broader development priorities.
