Nigeria and India have reached an agreement to enhance their cooperation in maritime security, intelligence sharing, and counter-terrorism efforts during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s state visit to Nigeria. This marks the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Nigeria in 17 years, following an invitation from President Bola Tinubu, who is actively seeking investments from major global economies.

Modi arrived in Abuja on Saturday evening and held discussions with Tinubu at the presidential villa on Sunday. Their talks encompassed various topics, including economic development, defense, healthcare, and food security, as outlined in a joint statement.

In light of increasing threats in the Gulf of Guinea and the Indian Ocean, both nations have committed to coordinated measures to protect maritime trade routes and address piracy.

As Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria is eager to attract more Indian investments and secure more affordable credit options to stimulate its economy and generate employment opportunities.

During the G20 summit last year, Nigeria announced that it had garnered nearly $14 billion in investment pledges from Indian investors, including a commitment of $3 billion from Jindal Steel and Power for Nigeria’s steel industry.

Over 200 Indian firms are currently active in Nigeria. Following his visit to Nigeria, Modi is scheduled to head to Brazil for this year’s G20 summit.