India's ties with Nigeria are going to be stronger. This is a direct consequence of the current visit by the Indian Prime Minister to Nigeria. The Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh met the Nigerian President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua at the presidential villa on Monday morning.
During political and diplomatic interactions between the heads of the two countries, India expressed thanks to Nigeria for the rapidly growing partnership between the two countries in the energy sector. They confirmed that both governments would continue to encourage further cooperation in the oil and gas sectors.
Images: PM hails Indo-Nigerian ties, Indian community
India and Nigeria have had longstanding cooperation in defence matters. Both sides agreed to further strengthen such cooperation and expand its ambit. In this context, India agreed to establish two IT laboratories in the defence academies of Nigeria. Both sides also agreed to enhance cooperation in peacekeeping operations in which their countries have traditionally played and continue to play an important role.
During bilateral talks, both sides agreed to stress the need to enhance air and maritime connectivity between the two countries. They instructed that a new civil aviation agreement should be entered into within six months and efforts should be made to improve maritime connectivity.
Also see: What Dr Singh told the Nigerian assembly
Both sides also agreed to strengthen cooperation in culture, education, health, S&T and ICT sectors. Exchanges among parliamentarians, youth and civil society would also be encouraged and developed.
Dr Singh and President Yar'Adua recalled that both India and Nigeria are members of the G-20 and G-33 and stressed the importance continuing coordination between the two governments. They stressed on the need to successfully complete the Doha round of talks to promote the interests of the developing countries in keeping with the Doha mandate.
India and Nigeria reaffirmed their understanding that no reform of the United Nations would be complete without the reform of the UN Security Council. Nigeria confirmed its support for India's permanent membership on an expanded UN Security Council. India agreed to respect Africa's consensus with respect to new permanent membership from Africa.
On Monday, Dr Singh inspected the guard of honour and signed a number of memoranda of understanding during his trip to the presidential villa. In the afternoon, the prime minister addressed the joint session of the Nigerian National Assembly.
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