By Gabriel Ameh
NEW DELHI: Nigeria is seeking to strengthen trade and investment ties with India while expanding support for Nigerians living, studying and doing business in the country.
Nigeria’s High Commissioner to India, Ambassador Saidu Dahiru Muhammad, said the Nigerian mission would deepen collaboration with key government agencies to improve services for Nigerians and promote economic opportunities between both countries.
Speaking in New Delhi, Muhammad said the mission planned to work closely with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) and other relevant institutions.
He said the collaboration would focus on information sharing, investment promotion and diaspora engagement.
“We intend to work closely with agencies such as NiDCOM, the EFCC, NIPC and other relevant institutions to improve information sharing and service delivery,” he said.
Nigeria Targets Trade Recovery
The High Commissioner said trade and investment promotion remained a major priority for the mission, expressing optimism that bilateral trade between Nigeria and India would recover from recent declines.
According to Muhammad, total trade between the two countries stood at about $14.95 billion in 2024–25, compared with approximately $27 billion in 2022–23.
He attributed the decline to several factors, including a period without a substantive Nigerian head of mission in India, global economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions.
Muhammad, however, said commercial activities were beginning to recover following the appointment of a substantive High Commissioner.
“Trade has started picking up again. We are seeing figures between $8.7 billion and $8.9 billion, and we are optimistic that we can return to previous levels by the end of 2027,” he said.
Envoy Highlights Investment Opportunities
Muhammad urged Nigerian investors participating in activities around the BRICS Summit to explore opportunities in India’s expanding technology ecosystem.
He identified agri-tech, health-tech, pharmaceutical technology and mining technology as areas where Nigerian businesses could benefit from partnerships with Indian companies.
Other sectors highlighted for stronger Nigeria-India cooperation include renewable energy, manufacturing, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, the circular economy and the creative industry.
According to the envoy, India’s technological expertise and manufacturing capacity could provide opportunities for Nigeria’s industrial and economic development.
“There are enormous opportunities for Nigeria to leverage India’s technological expertise and manufacturing capacity for our economic development and industrial growth,” he said.
He also encouraged Nigerian investors to partner with leading Indian healthcare institutions to establish medical facilities in Nigeria.
Muhammad said such partnerships could help reduce the need for Nigerians to travel abroad for medical treatment while improving access to quality healthcare in Nigeria and other parts of West Africa.
He described the creative industry as another area with significant potential for increased Indian investment and business partnerships.
Mission Strengthens Support for Nigerians
Beyond economic diplomacy, the High Commissioner said the Nigerian mission was intensifying efforts to educate Nigerians in India about local laws and immigration requirements.
He urged Nigerians to comply with Indian laws to avoid legal and security challenges.
“Every time they have access to us, we hammer on the need to abide by the rules,” he said.
He also encouraged Nigerians who had experienced challenges in India to share their experiences with prospective travellers and students.
The mission, he said, was upgrading its website and social media platforms, including LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and X, to provide Nigerians with timely information and guidance.
The upgraded website is expected to provide practical information for Nigerians travelling to India for education, business and medical purposes, including guidance on local laws, cultural expectations and other important considerations.
Focus on Nigerian Students
Muhammad also disclosed plans to engage universities across India to improve communication with Nigerian students from the time they are admitted until graduation.
He said the mission would emphasise compliance with visa conditions and encourage students to remain focused on their academic programmes.
The High Commission is also compiling a database of universities attended by Nigerians, which the envoy said would help prospective students identify legitimate institutions.
The initiative is expected to provide students and their families with better information before they travel to India for education.
Stronger Nigeria-India Information Sharing
Muhammad said the Nigerian and Indian diplomatic missions were also strengthening cooperation on issues involving Nigerians travelling to India.
He said information sharing was helping both sides better understand the movement of Nigerians travelling to India for education, healthcare and business.
The High Commissioner said the broader objective was to combine economic diplomacy with stronger consular support for Nigerians while deepening people-to-people relations between Nigeria and India.
