By Gloria Ikibah
Nigeria and India have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral relations, expanding defence cooperation and strengthening collaboration among developing nations, following a high-level engagement in Abuja.
The renewed commitment emerged when the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dunoma Umar Ahmed, received a delegation from the 66th Course of the National Defence College during a courtesy visit to the ministry on Monday. 
The delegation, led by Anvita Sinha, is in Nigeria as part of a foreign study tour aimed at examining the country’s socio-economic development, foreign policy direction, security landscape and strategic outlook.
In his welcome address, Ambassador Ahmed described relations between Nigeria and India as longstanding and robust, built on shared democratic principles, historical ties, expanding economic cooperation and active engagement within regional and multilateral institutions.
He noted that the visit offered an important opportunity to broaden cooperation in key sectors, including defence, security, capacity development, technology transfer and sustainable development.
Ahmed also acknowledged India’s contribution to Nigeria’s military training and professional development programmes, noting that such support has played a significant role in strengthening institutional capacity and promoting regional security.
During discussions, both sides exchanged views on Nigeria’s foreign policy priorities, regional security challenges and shifts in the global geopolitical landscape. The Permanent Secretary stressed the need for stronger partnerships among countries of the Global South and reiterated Nigeria’s support for South-South cooperation through platforms such as BRICS and other multilateral mechanisms.
He further highlighted Nigeria’s leadership role in Africa, particularly in advancing the African Union’s Agenda 2063, regional peace and security initiatives, infrastructure development and economic integration.
“The significance of the visit is a valuable platform for strengthening mutual understanding and expanding cooperation in critical areas such as defence, security, capacity building, technology transfer and sustainable developmentAhmed said.
He also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to promoting peace, stability and prosperity across the continent through diplomacy, strategic partnerships and regional cooperation.
The meeting explored opportunities for closer collaboration in counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing, border security, military education and the deployment of emerging technologies to tackle evolving security threats.
“Nigeria remains ready to deepen cooperation with India in these areas for the mutual benefit of both countries”, he added.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Manoj thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for what he described as a warm reception and constructive engagement.
He praised the enduring friendship between both countries and expressed optimism that continued dialogue would further strengthen bilateral relations while contributing to global peace, security and development.
Colonel Manoj said he was encouraged by the depth of cooperation between the two nations and confident that stronger engagement would yield greater benefits for both countries.
The meeting ended with both sides reaffirming their commitment to expanding collaboration in diplomacy, defence, security, education, technology and development, underscoring a shared determination to deepen strategic ties in an increasingly complex global environment.
