PM arrives in Nigeria to boost bilateral ties

ABUJA (NIGERIA): Determined to "reinvigorate" India's ties with African countries, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived in the Nigerian capital on Sunday on the first leg of his two-nation visit describing the top West African state as "not only our friend but brother."

Singh, who is the first Indian Prime Minister to set foot on Nigerian soil in 45 years for a bilateral visit, flagged the point that India's ties with oil-rich Nigeria are "historic and broad-ranging" and that their relationship is "marked by convergence of interests reflecting mutual commitment to South-South cooperation."

Singh is on a five-day visit to Nigeria and South Africa, where he will attend the second three-nation summit of IBSA(India,Brazil, South Africa) starting October 17.

Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru visited Nigeria in 1962 and so too Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2003 but for attending the Commonwealth Summit. Several agreements are expected to be signed between India and Nigeria after Singh's talks with Nigerian President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua.

Singh said in a pre-departure statement in Delhi that his journey to Nigeria signified India's desire to "re-invigorate its ties with not only our friend and brother" Nigeria but the entire African continent.

"As developing countries with a similar historic experience, we face common challenges of nation building."

Highlighting the importance of his visit to Nigeria, he said the country played a leadership role in West Africa and within the 53-nation African Union, besides being an active member of Commonwealth, NAM, G-77 and the UN.

"There is much that India and Africa have to do together for the betterment of our peoples," Singh said.