Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited President Bola Tinubu to participate in this year’s BRICS Leaders’ Summit, scheduled for September 12 and 13 in New Delhi.
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 meeting 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 significant.
He said Nigeria’s status as a BRICS partner country would allow it to contribute to discussions on issues affecting developing countries and the wider Global South.
Singh also pointed to the growing diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and India, noting that both countries support each other’s positions on international platforms, including their respective ambitions for permanent representation on the United Nations Security Council.
Beyond diplomatic ties, the envoy highlighted the longstanding people-to-people relationship between the two countries. He said about 60,000 Indians reside in Nigeria, with some families having lived in the country for generations.
According to him, the Indian community has contributed to strengthening bilateral relations through its activities in areas such as business, healthcare, education and cultural exchange.
Singh said economic relations had also continued to expand, with trade between Nigeria and India nearing $10 billion.
He disclosed that over 200 Indian companies currently operate in Nigeria and collectively provide employment for nearly 100,000 Nigerians.
He added that bilateral cooperation now extends beyond commerce to sectors including energy, defence, agriculture, healthcare and technology.
The high commissioner said Tinubu’s participation in the BRICS summit would further strengthen bilateral relations and create additional opportunities for Nigeria and India to deepen cooperation while advancing the interests of the Global South.
