In Nigeria, PM Narendra Modi pushes for global alliance to battle terrorism, piracy and drug trafficking- The Week

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday held extensive talks with Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu focusing on boosting the India-Nigeria partnership in a range of areas, including trade, investment and digital public infrastructure.

India accords “high priority” to its strategic partnership with Nigeria, said Modi.

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During the opening remarks of the bilateral meeting with Tinubu, PM Modi said, “I am confident that a new chapter in our ties will begin following our talks.”

PM Modi announced that India is sending around 20 tonnes of relief supplies for Nigerian people hit by the recent floods.

Modi thanked Tinubu for ensuring the welfare of the around 60,000-strong Indian expatriate community in Nigeria.

He also identified terrorism, separatism, piracy and drug trafficking as major challenges and said the two countries will continue to work together to deal with them.

He also referred to the African Union becoming a permanent member of the G20 at the India-hosted summit of the grouping last year and described it as a significant outcome.

Modi arrived in Abuja early Sunday on the first trip to the country.

The India-Nigeria ties were elevated to the status of a “strategic partnership’ during then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to the African nation in October 2007.

This is Modi’s first-ever visit to the West African Region. He is on a five-day visit to Nigeria, Brazil and Guyana.

After Nigeria, Modi will travel to Brazil, where he will attend the 19th G20 Summit as a Troika member.

Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden will be among the leaders to attend the summit in Rio de Janeiro on November 18-19.

Along with Brazil and South Africa, India is part of the G20 Troika.

In the final leg of his trip, Modi will Guyana from November 19 to 21 at the invitation of President Mohamed Irfaan Ali. PM Modi will be the first Indian PM to visit Guyana in more than 50 years.