The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dunoma Ahmed, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation with India.
Ahmed made this known during a meeting with the High Commissioner of India to Nigeria, Abhishek Singh, at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, May 7, 2026.
In a statement issued by the ministry’s spokesman, Kimiebi Ebienfa, Ahmed expressed appreciation for the cordial relationship between both countries and stressed the need to deepen cooperation ahead of the India-Africa Forum Summit scheduled to hold in New Delhi later in May 2026.
According to him, Nigeria and India remain strategic partners bound by shared democratic values and common aspirations for sustainable development and South-South cooperation.
Ahmed also highlighted the significance of the forthcoming BRICS and India-Africa Forum engagements in strengthening multilateral cooperation among developing nations amid changing global political and economic realities.
He reiterated Nigeria’s interest in attracting more Indian investments into critical sectors of the economy, including manufacturing, agriculture, mining, renewable energy and local value addition.
The permanent secretary further called for stronger collaboration in security and counter-terrorism through technological cooperation and defence capacity building.
Earlier, Singh briefed Ahmed on preparations for the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting scheduled for May 14 to 15, 2026, at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
The India-Africa Forum Summit is also expected to bring together African leaders and senior officials later in the month.
Singh said Nigeria, as a BRICS partner country and a key stakeholder in Africa, occupies a strategic position in India’s engagement with the continent.
“The Government of India looks forward to Nigeria’s active participation at the meetings and in deepening cooperation between both countries in areas of trade, renewable energy, defence, industrialisation, agriculture and technology,” he said.
The Indian envoy also highlighted ongoing initiatives under the International Solar Alliance and Africa Solar Facility, including proposed renewable energy investments and broader developmental partnerships with Nigeria.
