President Tinubu Hosts Indian PM Narendra Modi in Abuja for Bilateral Talks
President Bola Tinubu warmly welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja on Sunday. Modi, who arrived in the Nigerian capital on Saturday evening, was received with full honors at the Villa’s Forecourt around 10:20 am.
The reception featured the Indian national anthem, followed by the Nigerian national anthem performed by the Brigade of Guards. The ceremonial welcome included a Guard of Honour inspection by Prime Minister Modi, punctuated by a 21-gun salute.
After the formalities, President Tinubu accompanied Modi into his office for a closed-door meeting, where the two leaders are expected to sign multiple bilateral agreements. The visit also includes delegation-level discussions and the exchange of key memoranda of understanding (MOUs) aimed at bolstering cooperation between Nigeria and India.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Presidency highlighted the significance of the visit, noting that the discussions will focus on strengthening ties across critical sectors. “President Tinubu and Prime Minister Modi will further enhance Nigeria’s and India’s ties during their bilateral discussions. Both leaders will exchange signed MOUs to boost collaboration in critical sectors,” the statement read.
This historic visit marks the first by an Indian Prime Minister to Nigeria since Dr. Manmohan Singh’s state visit in 2007, during which the two countries established a strategic partnership.