Abuja, November 17 (IANS). Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday. On reaching State House, PM Modi was formally welcomed with a 21-gun salute.
A meeting was held between the two leaders, which was followed by delegation level talks. The Prime Minister recalled his warm meeting with President Tinubu at the G-20 Summit in New Delhi. He said the two countries share special bonds of friendship, defined by a shared past, common democratic values and strong people-to-people ties.
PM Modi expressed his condolences to President Tinubu for the devastation caused by the recent floods in the country. President Tinubu thanked Prime Minister Modi for the timely assistance received from India with relief material and medicines.
The two leaders highlighted the strategic partnership between India and Nigeria and discussed issues to improve bilateral relations. Increasing defense and security cooperation was also discussed in the meeting.
The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to jointly fight terrorism, piracy and radicalism. PM Modi offered Nigeria India’s experience in agriculture, transportation, affordable medicine, renewable energy and digital transformation. President Tinubu appreciated the development cooperation partnership offered by India and its meaningful impact in building local capacity, skills and professional expertise.
President Tinubu appreciated India’s efforts in raising the concerns of developing countries through the ‘Voice of the Global South Summits’. The two leaders agreed to work together to fulfill the development aspirations of the ‘Global South’.
Prime Minister Modi appreciated the role played by Nigeria as Chair of ECOWAS and its contribution in multilateral fora.
After the meeting with the Nigerian President, PM Modi wrote on social media platform There is immense potential to further enhance relations in health, education and other sectors.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Nigeria for the first time on Sunday. This visit is part of his three-nation tour, in which he will also visit Brazil and Guyana. PM Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Nigeria in the last 17 years.
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu warmly welcomed PM Modi at Abuja Airport. This visit is being considered special to strengthen the relations between India and Nigeria.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu honored Prime Minister Modi with Nigeria’s highest honour, ‘The Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger’ (GCON).
With this, PM Modi has become the second big personality in the world to receive this highest honor of Nigeria. Before this, Queen Elizabeth is the only foreign celebrity who was awarded this honor in 1969.
On this occasion, PM Modi said, “I express my heartfelt gratitude to you, the government and people of Nigeria for being honored with Nigeria’s national honor ‘The Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger’. I accept this honor with humility. And I accept it with respect. I dedicate this honor to the 140 crore Indians and the deep friendship between India and Nigeria.”
–IANS
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