Minister of Defence, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar has expressed the willingness of the Federal Government of Nigeria to deepen defence collaboration with the government of India.
The minister stated this when he received the High Commissioner of India to Nigeria, Balasubramanian, at the Ship House, Abuja.
In a statement by the Director Press, Ministry of Defence, Mr Henshew Ogubike, Badaru said
Nigeria and India have excellent bilateral relations and there was a need to expand defence cooperation on military equipment and training between the two countries.
He hinted that there is a joint consultative meeting that will be held between Nigeria and India on 30th November 2023, adding that it would afford both countries the opportunity to discuss and finalise on the proposed collaboration.
In his remarks, the India High Commissioner noted that there is an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Nigeria on defence cooperation and that the government of India would further strengthen the relationship.
Balasubramanian said that India in cooperation with the Nigerian Navy has successfully cooperated in fighting piracy at the Gulf of Guinea.