PM Modi in Nigeria : How Nigerian media covered The Historic Visit?

Prime Minister Modi received a rousing welcome from the Indian diaspora as he arrived in Abuja

PM Modi interacting with the Indian community after his arrival in Nigeria

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a warm welcome from the Indian community in Nigeria on Sunday in the first leg of his three-nation visit, becoming the first Indian PM to visit the West African country in 17 years.

Upon his arrival in Abuja, PM Modi was warmly greeted by Minister for Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, who presented him with the ‘Key to the City’ of Abuja.

Several members of the Indian diaspora were ecstatic on meeting the Prime Minister, holding Indian flags and chanting ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’During the visit, PM Modi also highlighted that the Marathi community in Nigeria expressed joy at Marathi being conferred the status of a Classical Language, during his interaction with the Indian diaspora.

“At the invitation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, this will be my first visit to Nigeria, which is our close partner in the West African region.

My visit will be an opportunity to build upon our Strategic Partnership that is based on shared belief in democracy and pluralism. I am also eagerly looking forward to meeting the Indian community and friends from Nigeria who have sent me warm welcome messages in Hindi,” he said in a statement prior to his departure.

PM Modi will also be honoured with Nigeria’s second highest national honour ‘The Grand Commander of The Order of the Niger’. This will be the 17th such international award being conferred to PM Modi by a country. Notably, Queen Elizabeth is the only foreign dignitary who has been awarded GCON in 1969.

Ahead of PM Modi’s arrival, most of the Nigerian media was buzzing in anticipation of the Indian leader’s visit. Several Nigerian newspapers such as Punch and Vanguard published advertisements welcoming PM Modi to the country.

The advertisements also included warm welcomes by the Indian Professionals Forum in Nigeria and the Skipper Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of the Indian energy firm Skipper.

PM Modi’s visit marks the first by an Indian prime minister since former PM Manmohan Singh’s state visit in 2007, during which the two nations established a strategic partnership.

According to the Nigerian Presidency, PM Modi and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will aim to strengthen bilateral relations during this period.

According to the Nigeria-based Punch newspaper, Tinubu received PM Modi at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja at 10:20 am (local time) today.

The Indian leader was greeted with the Indian national anthem, followed by a Guard of Honour mounted by a Brigade of Guards, which performed the Nigerian national anthem and led the visiting Prime Minister in inspecting the mounted parade.

This was followed by a 21-gun salute, after which PM Modi completed his inspection of the Guard of Honour. Tinubu then escorted him into his office for a closed-door meeting.

The two leaders are expected to discuss and sign several bilateral agreements during their interaction, which will also include delegation-level discussions and several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs).

Nigerian President Tinubu earlier said he looked forward to welcome PM Modi on his first visit to Nigeria. “Our bilateral discussions will seek to expand the strategic partnership between both countries and enhance cooperation in critical sectors,” he said in a post on X.

Responding to the post, PM Modi thanked the Nigerian President for the warm welcome. “Thank you, President Tinubu. Landed a short while ago in Nigeria. Grateful for the warm welcome. May this visit deepen the bilateral friendship between our nations,” he said in the post.

PM Modi will take part in the G20 Summit as a Troika member in Brazil. Outgoing US President Joe Biden, China’s Xi Jinping will be among the participating world leaders in Rio de Janeiro on November 18-19.

In his third and final trip, the Prime Minister will visit Guyana from November 19 to 21 at the invitation of President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, becoming the first Indian leader to visit the country in over 50 years.