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Nigeria is the most populous nation in Africa and also has its largest economy. It is in the MINT group which after BRICS is the next group of emerging economies.
Its importance to India?
Per the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Amb. Ajjampur Ghanashyam, based on 2014-15 financial year trade data,
“Nigeria is India’s largest trading partner in Africa and India is Nigeria’s largest trading partner in the world”.
The envoy said that there was a satisfactory level of interaction between the armed forces of the two countries, particularly in the area of training.
Ghanashyam told NAN that there was a healthy relationship in the area of education between the two nations, adding that 4,940 Nigerian students were currently studying in India.
The envoy said the two governments needed to renew the Bilateral Aviation Services Agreement existing between them.
He said the India-Africa Forum Summit which is scheduled to hold in October would develop India’s strategy for Africa and enhance the country’s relations with Africa.
Therefore, I think Nigeria merits delumping from the India-Africa thread. IMO, Nigeria is of strategic importance.
I follow this blog for nigeria's military's moves against BK. https://beegeagle.wordpress.com/
one thing I noticed is increasing chinese presence in their hardware.
Saudi Arabia lost its spot in May as India's top oil supplier to Nigeria for the first time in at least four years, ship tracking data compiled by Reuters show, as the world's top crude exporter struggles to maintain market share in Asia.
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In India, refiners have been switching out of long-term contracts with the Middle East suppliers in favour of spot purchases, of ten African oil. The share of African oil - mainly from Nigeria and Angola - rose to 26% of India's total imports in May, up from around 15.5% in April and the highest in more than four years, according to tracking data on tanker arrivals. At the same time, the Middle East share fell to 54% in May from 61%, with Saudi supplying some 7,32,400 barrels per day (bpd) compared with Nigeria's 7,45,200 bpd.
Arrangements are on ground for Nigeria and India are to sign Prisoners Transfer Agreement to allow prisoners of the two countries to return to their home countries to serve their jail terms.