By Chesa Chesa
President Bola Tinubu on Sunday conferred the national honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited Nigeria at the weekend.
Speaking at the opening of bilateral and political talks between the two leaders, President Tinubu described the honour as a gesture of Nigeria’s appreciation and commitment to India as a worthy partner.
He praised India for “standing side by side” with Nigeria on many fronts and for many decades, declaring that “it iis our hope that this will spur renewed cooperation between Nigeria and India in all sectors and also ensure joint collaboration to maintain and strengthen our relations”.
In his acceptance remarks, Modi dedicated the honour to the 1.4 billion citizens of India and the deep friendship between India and Nigeria. This honour will continue to inspire us to take the India-Nigeria strategic partnership to new heights.
“The relations between India and Nigeria are based on mutual cooperation, understanding and mutual respect. As two vibrant democracies and dynamic economies, we will continue to work for the benefit of our people,” Modi said.
The Indian Prime minister identified the social and cultural diversities of the two nations as sources of strength, while noting that Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Develop India 2047 share many common aspirations.
With over 60,000 Indians residing in Nigeria, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality provided by the Nigerian government; and described the Indian community in Nigeria as an important link between the two countries.
