By Sarafina Christopher

Nigeria and India have pledged to strengthen ties in the strategic areas of agriculture, renewable energy and defence, among others.

Dammu Ravi, India’s Secretary of Economic Relations, stated this on Sunday in Abuja, at a news conference on the sidelines of the state visit by Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi to Nigeria.

Ravi said that the visit, the first in 17 years by an Indian PM afforded the leadership of both countries to deepen it’s bilateral relations in many fronts.

“The Prime Minister and President Bola Tinubu re-affirmed support and commitment to strengthening India, Nigeria strategic partnership.

“The two leader discussed bilateral cooperations in the field of trade, investment, defence, security, education, health, culture and people to people levels.

“They also focused on further enhancing the strategic partnership in various sectors, particularly in agriculture, railway transport, renewable energy and development cooperation fields,” he said.

Ravi said both countries were working more closely to boost investment in the renewable energy sector and fight climate change.

Earlier, Shri Balasubramanian, Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, said that Indian companies were keen on diversifying and investing in Nigeria’s agriculture sector.

“There are new areas that are been identified which includes agriculture, particularly in areas like irrigational services, hybrid seed development and climate resilient seeds.

“We also talked about mining and various issues pertaining to SMEs and skill development,” he said.

The envoy said that both leaders also discussed investment in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas sector, including establishing Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion facilities in Nigeria.

“There was good concentration on the Oil and Gas industry investment.

“Some Indian companies are already working on the CNG areas, they are setting up outlets for CNG here and the CNG kits to be installed in cars,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria and India had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the areas of Cultural Exchange, Survey Cooperation, and Customs.

The ties between India-Nigeria were elevated to the status of a “strategic partnership” when then prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh, PM Modi’s predecessor, visited Nigeria in Oct. 2007. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Muhyideen Jimoh