Nigeria is seeking increased Indian investment and stronger business-to-business ties as the country moves to deepen its economic partnership with India.
Nigeria’s new High Commissioner to India, Saidu Dahiru Muhammad, made the commitment while presenting his Letters of Credence to Indian President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday, August 24, 2026.
During the ceremony, Muhammad conveyed the greetings of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Murmu and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening the longstanding relationship between the two countries.
The High Commissioner identified trade, investment and economic cooperation as key priorities of his tenure, saying he would work to attract greater Indian investment into Nigeria and facilitate stronger engagement between businesses in both countries.
Muhammad said Nigeria-India relations extended beyond diplomatic and political ties to include economic, commercial, cultural and educational cooperation as well as people-to-people connections.
He also expressed Nigeria’s interest in expanding cooperation with India in healthcare and pharmaceuticals, agriculture, energy, manufacturing, information and communications technology, digital transformation, education and scholarships, infrastructure and skills development.
The envoy further identified defence, security and cultural exchanges as areas where bilateral cooperation could be strengthened.
Murmu backs stronger business ties
President Murmu welcomed Muhammad and congratulated him on his appointment as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to India.
According to Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Indian president spoke positively about the longstanding relationship between the two countries, describing it as being built on strong historical ties, mutual respect and shared interests.
Murmu particularly highlighted the importance of Nigeria-India economic relations and reaffirmed India’s position as a major business and trading partner of Nigeria.
She also acknowledged the contributions of Indian businesses and investors to Nigeria’s economic development and encouraged stronger private-sector engagement between the two countries.
The Indian president’s emphasis on economic relations aligns with Nigeria’s push for greater investment and commercial cooperation with India.
Nigeria targets broader economic partnership
Muhammad said he was determined to translate the longstanding friendship between Nigeria and India into tangible and mutually beneficial outcomes.
He assured the Indian government, Indian business community, Nigerian stakeholders in India and other relevant partners of his commitment to closer engagement.
The High Commissioner also stressed the importance of a citizen-centred approach to diplomacy, with greater emphasis on creating opportunities that directly benefit Nigerians and Indians.
The presentation of the Letters of Credence formally marked Muhammad’s assumption of diplomatic responsibilities as Nigeria’s representative in India and provided an opportunity for both sides to reaffirm their commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation.
Nigeria and India have maintained longstanding diplomatic relations, with their partnership spanning trade, investment, education, healthcare, energy, technology, defence and other areas of mutual interest.
The latest engagement signals an effort by both governments to place greater emphasis on translating those longstanding ties into expanded economic opportunities and stronger private-sector partnerships.
