Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited President Bola Tinubu to participate in this year’s BRICS Leaders’ Summit, scheduled to hold in New Delhi on September 12 and 13.
India’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Abhishek Singh, disclosed this on Wednesday during an interaction with journalists in Abuja, expressing hope that Tinubu would attend the summit with a Nigerian delegation.
According to Singh, Nigeria’s position as Africa’s largest economy and one of the world’s most populous countries makes its participation in BRICS particularly significant.
He said Nigeria’s status as a BRICS partner country would provide an opportunity for the country to contribute to discussions on issues affecting developing nations and the wider Global South.
Singh also highlighted the growing diplomatic ties between Nigeria and India, noting that both countries support each other’s positions on international platforms, including their respective bids for permanent representation on the United Nations Security Council.
Beyond diplomatic relations, the envoy emphasised the longstanding people-to-people ties between the two countries. He said about 60,000 Indians currently reside in Nigeria, with some families having lived in the country for generations.
According to him, the Indian community has contributed significantly to strengthening bilateral relations through its activities in business, healthcare, education and cultural exchange.
Singh said economic relations between the two countries had also continued to grow, with bilateral trade approaching $10 billion.
He disclosed that more than 200 Indian companies currently operate in Nigeria, collectively employing nearly 100,000 Nigerians.
The high commissioner added that bilateral cooperation now extends beyond trade and investment to key sectors including energy, defence, agriculture, healthcare and technology.
He said Tinubu’s participation in the BRICS summit would further strengthen Nigeria-India relations and create additional opportunities for both countries to deepen cooperation while advancing the interests of the Global South.
