PM Modi receives Nigeria’s top civilian honour

New Delhi, Nov 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with the ‘Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger,’ one of Nigeria’s highest civilian honours. The accolade, previously bestowed upon only a handful of distinguished leaders including Queen Elizabeth II in 1969, marks the 17th international award presented to Modi by a foreign nation, highlighting his growing global stature.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi expressed his gratitude, saying, “Honoured to be conferred with the ‘Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger’ Award by Nigeria. I accept it with great humility and dedicate it to the people of India.” His words reflect a spirit of humility and a gesture of dedication to his nation, positioning this recognition as a shared achievement for the Indian populace.

In a ceremony at the State House, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu conferred the national award, “Grand Commander of the Order of Niger” on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his statesmanship and stellar contribution to fostering India-Nigeria ties.

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While accepting the award the Prime Minister dedicated the honour to the people of India and the longstanding friendship between India and Nigeria.

Modi further stated that the recognition underscores the Strategic Partnership between the two countries and their shared commitment to the aspirations of the Global South.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a State Visit to Nigeria from 17-18 November 2024. He held official talks with the President of Nigeria, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in Abuja today. Upon arrival at the State House, Prime Minister was accorded a ceremonial welcome with a 21-gun salute.

The two leaders had a restricted meeting which was followed by delegation level talks.

Prime Minister recalled his warm meeting with President Tinubu at the G 20 Summit in New Delhi. He noted that the two countries enjoy special bonds of friendship defined by a shared past, common democratic values and strong people-to-people ties.

Prime Minister conveyed his sympathies to President Tinubu for the destruction caused by the recent floods in the country. President Tinubu thanked Prime Minister for India’s timely assistance with relief material and medicines.

The two leaders also reviewed the ongoing bilateral cooperation and discussed ways to further strengthen India-Nigeria Strategic Partnership. Expressing satisfaction at the progress of ties, they agreed that there was immense potential for collaboration in the fields of trade, investment, education, energy, health, culture, and people-to-people ties.

Prime Minister offered India’s experience in agriculture, transportation, affordable medicine, renewable energy, and digital transformation to Nigeria. President Tinubu appreciated the development cooperation partnership offered by India and its meaningful impact in creating local capacities, skills, and professional expertise.

The two leaders also discussed enhancing defence and security cooperation. They reaffirmed their commitment to jointly fighting terrorism, piracy and radicalisation.

The two leaders also discussed global and regional issues. President Tinubu acknowledged India’s efforts to amplify the concerns of developing countries through the Voice of the Global South Summits. The two leaders agreed to work together to meet the development aspirations of the Global South.

Prime Minister appreciated the role played by Nigeria as the Chair of ECOWAS and its contribution to multilateral and plurilateral bodies. Alluding to Nigeria’s membership of the International Solar Alliance and the International Big Cat Alliance, Prime Minister invited President Tinubu to join other pro-planet green initiatives launched by India.

Following the talks, three Memoranda of Understanding - on Cultural Exchange Programme, Customs Cooperation and Survey Cooperation were signed. This was followed by a state banquet hosted by the President in honour of the Prime Minister.

Earlier on arriving in Abuja, Prime Minister Modi was greeted with a warm welcome by members of the Indian diaspora, a community of over 60,000 that has become an integral part of Nigeria’s socio-economic landscape.

Modi’s visit to Nigeria, the first by an Indian premier in 17 years, was part of a broader three-nation tour that will also take him to Brazil and Guyana. In a joint statement with Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Modi underscored the strategic importance of the partnership, stating, “We give high priority to our strategic partnership with Nigeria. I am confident that a new chapter in our ties will begin following our talks.” The two leaders engaged in detailed discussions aimed at bolstering cooperation across various sectors, including trade, defence, healthcare, and education.

During the bilateral talks, PM Modi highlighted the longstanding relationship between India and Nigeria, dating back over six decades. He noted the evolution of this partnership, which was elevated to the status of a “strategic partnership” during the visit of then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in 2007. Modi emphasised the shared values of democracy and pluralism that underpin this relationship, remarking, “This visit is an opportunity to build upon our Strategic Partnership, which is based on shared beliefs.”

Modi’s visit also followed the recent inclusion of the African Union as a permanent member of the G20, a move he described as a “significant outcome” of the September 2023 G20 summit in New Delhi. This decision, he noted, aligns with India’s vision of amplifying the voice of the Global South in international forums.

Additionally, Modi mentioned the Indian government’s ongoing support for Nigeria, including the recent dispatch of 20 tonnes of relief supplies to aid those affected by floods. Such gestures of assistance underscore the humanitarian dimension of the India-Nigeria relationship, which has expanded beyond traditional diplomatic ties to include people-to-people connections.

The visit marks a significant chapter in India-Nigeria relations, setting the stage for enhanced cooperation in the coming years. As Modi departs for the next leg of his tour in Brazil to attend G 20 meeting and have sideline bilateral meetings, the foundation laid in Abuja is expected to catalyse further collaboration between the two nations, reinforcing their roles as pivotal players in their respective regions and on the global stage.