Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Nigeria on Sunday at the invitation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This visit is the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 17 years. Nigeria is the first stop on Prime Minister Modi’s three-nation tour. After the stay in Nigeria, the Prime Minister will travel to Brazil and then to Guyana for the G20 Summit in 2024.
Both Prime Minister Modi and President Tinubu intended to discuss bilateral relations to expand the strategic partnership between the two countries and “enhance cooperation in key areas”. As part of the warm welcome extended to Prime Minister Modi upon his arrival, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, presented him with the “Key to the City” of Abuja.
Additionally, Nigeria honored Prime Minister Modi with its national Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) award. This is the 17th international honor awarded to Prime Minister Modi by a foreign nation. In this regard, Prime Minister Modi wrote in X Post: “I am very proud that Nigeria honors me with the ‘Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger’ award. I accept it with great humility and dedicate it to the people of India.”
Apart from this, the PMO posted on with humility. and respect. And I dedicate this honor to the 140 million Indians and the deep friendship between India and Nigeria.”
PM Modi’s visit to Nigeria is historic
Let us tell you that this is Prime Minister Modi’s first visit to the West African region. To make Prime Minister Modi’s first visit even more special, Nigeria awarded him its second highest national award. Prime Minister Modi is the second foreign dignitary to receive this honour. Before her, Queen Elizabeth was the only foreign dignitary to receive the GCON in 1969.
Indian government officials told news agency PTI that this is the 17th such international award given to Prime Minister Modi by a foreign nation.
Prime Minister Modi is on a five-day trip abroad.
After the visit to Nigeria, Prime Minister Modi will attend the 19th G20 summit in Brazil as a member of the Troika. He will later participate in the summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden in Rio de Janeiro on November 18 and 19. India is part of the G20 troika along with Brazil and South Africa. In the third and final leg of his visit, Modi will visit Guyana from November 19 to 21 at the invitation of President Mohammad Irfan Ali. This will be the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Guyana in more than 50 years.
