The Minister of Defence, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, CON, mni, has voiced the Federal Government’s intent to bolster defence collaboration with the Government of India. This commitment emerged during his meeting with the High Commissioner of India to Nigeria, Balasubramanian, held at Ship House in Abuja on Wednesday.
During the meeting, the minister emphasized the strong bilateral relations shared between Nigeria and India. He underscored the need for an expansion of defence cooperation encompassing military equipment and training programs, thereby fostering a stronger partnership between the two nations.
To operationalize this vision, the Minister announced an upcoming joint consultative meeting scheduled for November 30, 2023, where delegates from both Nigeria and India will convene. This meeting presents a promising platform for the two countries to deliberate, finalize, and solidify their proposed collaboration in the defence sector.
India’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Balasubramanian, reiterated the importance of the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on defence cooperation between the two countries. He expressed India’s unwavering commitment to fortify this alliance.
Furthermore, Balasubramanian highlighted the successful collaborative efforts between India and the Nigerian Navy in combating piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, reflecting the tangible outcomes of such partnerships.
As it is, Nigeria is determined to elevate its defence collaboration with India, capitalizing on their positive bilateral relations to create a more robust defence framework encompassing equipment and training.
With an upcoming consultative meeting on the horizon, both nations are eager to further enhance their cooperation, solidifying their commitment to stronger defence ties.
