President Bola Tinubu has conferred the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), one of Nigeria’s highest national honors, on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The honor was presented during a bilateral meeting held at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa on Sunday.
President Tinubu described the award as a gesture of Nigeria’s appreciation for India’s partnership. “The honor signifies our appreciation of India as Nigeria’s partner,” he stated. Tinubu praised Modi’s leadership and commitment to democratic values, highlighting his remarkable feat of winning three consecutive elections in a complex society like India.
“We value our excellent relationship with India and strive to deepen and broaden it for the mutual benefit of our two countries. This honor underscores our respect and commitment to strengthening our partnership,” Tinubu added.
Prime Minister Modi, who arrived in Abuja on Saturday evening, was formally welcomed on Sunday with the Indian national anthem, followed by the Nigerian anthem and an inspection of the guard of honor mounted by the presidential brigade. After the ceremonial welcome, President Tinubu and Prime Minister Modi held a closed-door meeting to discuss key bilateral issues.
The discussions are expected to culminate in the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to enhance collaboration in critical sectors. A statement from the presidency noted that the two leaders are determined to further strengthen the ties between Nigeria and India.
This visit marks the first by an Indian prime minister to Nigeria since Manmohan Singh’s state visit in 2007, underscoring the significance of the evolving partnership between the two nations.
