Nigeria – India
Sign Mutual Agreements
Nigeria
and India have signed Bi-lateral Cooperation, Trade and
Investments and Partnership Agreements in Abuja, Nigeria’s
capital.
These agreements, in line with the South- South Cooperation
objectives were endorsed by Nigeria’s President Umaru Musa Yar
Adua and the Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh during his
three-day visit to Nigeria.
The Agreements
In all, three agreements were signed covering socio-economic and
political areas. The remaining ten would be finalised and signed
within the next six months.
According to a statement by the Indian High Commission in
Nigeria, the areas covered by the pact are as follows:
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Foreign Service
Institute and the Nigerian Foreign Service Academy;
MoU between Indian Council for World Affairs (ICWA) and Nigerian
Institute of International Affairs;
Protocol for foreign office consultations; and
MoU on Defence co-operation.
To enhance a broad-based co-operation, the following agreements
would be finalised and signed within the next six months:
Double taxation avoidance agreement; bilateral investment
promotion & protection agreement; bilateral inter-governmental
science and technology agreement; bilateral air services
agreement (renewal of 1976 agreement); Mutual legal assistance
treaty, Extradition treaty.
Trade agreement; Co-operation against drug-trafficking, etc; and
Cultural exchange programme, covering Year 2008 - 2010.
Implications
Significantly, in the next six months, persons travelling to
India from Nigeria can do so by direct flight without connecting
flights in Dubai, Nairobi or Addis-Ababa.
In order to enhance air and maritime connectivity between the
two countries, the leaders noted that a new Civil Aviation
Agreement should be entered into within six months and further
efforts should be made to improve maritime connectivity.
Permanent UN Seat
While addressing a Joint session of Nigeria’s National Assembly,
the Indian Prime Minister gave an assurance of his country’s
support for Nigeria’s quest for a seat at the UN Security
Council.
The two countries reaffirmed their understanding that no reform
of the UN would be complete without a restructuring of the UN
Security Council.
Nigeria also reaffirmed its support for India's permanent
membership on an expanded UN Security Council. India will
respect Africa's consensus with respect to new permanent
membership from Africa.
The Indian Prime Minister had, on arrival at the state house
Abuja, inspected a Guard of Honour mounted by troops of the
Guard's Brigade of the Nigerian Army.
Nigeria –India Economic Relations
The current memorandum of understanding between both countries
dates back to 1962 when the then Indian Prime Minister
Jawaharlal Nehru, visited Nigeria.
India dominates Nigeria’s economic landscape especially in the
areas of textile, ICT, redistributive trade among others.
The yearly trade volume of both countries has been put at over 3
billion dollars.
NP/QASIM/YINKA
