Jaishankar Speaks With Nigerian FM, Reviews Development Of Special Bilateral Ties
New Delhi, Jan 6: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday spoke with Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama, and reviewed the development of the special bilateral relationship.
The EAM said he looks forward to an early holding of the Joint Commission meeting in Abuja. Jaishankar said in a tweet:
“Nice speaking to FM @GeoffreyOnyeama
of Nigeria. Conveyed greetings for 2022 and reviewed development of our special relationship.
“Look forward to an early Joint Commission Meeting at Abuja.”
India is Nigeria’s largest trading partner while Nigeria is India’s largest trading partner in Africa.
India is also the largest buyer of Nigerian crude oil. Out of the total India’s imports of $ 10.21 billion from Nigeria, crude oil accounted for $ 10.03 billion.
In recent years, Nigeria has been one of the main sources of crude for India. Nigeria has emerged as the fourth largest supplier of crude oil and LNG to India in 2020.
The total bilateral trade between India and Nigeria during the year 2019-20 registered US $ 13.82 billion, as against US$ 13.89 billion recorded during the year 2018-19.
It is informally estimated that there would be around US$ 19.3 billion of investment by Indian companies in Nigeria. Over 135 companies are owned and/or operated by Indians or Persons-of-Indian Origin in Nigeria. An entire generation in Nigerians from Northern Nigeria was taught by Indian teachers, treated by Indian Doctors and grew up wearing Indian clothing and watching Indian movies in the 1970s to 1990s. The enormous goodwill earned by Indians can invariably be felt in interactions with the government and the civil society, the Indian High Commission in Abuja said.
