Nigeria Moves To Revive Trade With India, Strengthen Diaspora Support
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
For Nigerians in India, stronger diplomatic ties could mean easier access to information, better consular support and more opportunities to study, do business and invest safely.
Nigeria is now seeking to link that support with a broader push to revive bilateral trade and investment.
The Nigerian High Commission in India says it will deepen collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) and Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) to improve information sharing, diaspora engagement and service delivery.
High Commissioner to India, Ambassador Saidu Dahiru Muhammad, said the mission was also working to restore the momentum in Nigeria-India trade, which fell from about $27 billion in 2022-23 to $14.95 billion in 2024-25.
Muhammad attributed the decline partly to the absence of a substantive Nigerian head of mission in India, alongside global economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions.
He said trade had begun to recover, with current figures estimated at between $8.7 billion and $8.9 billion, and expressed optimism that previous levels could be regained by the end of 2027.
The envoy identified health-tech, agri-tech, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, renewable energy, mining technology, healthcare, the creative industry and the circular economy as areas with strong potential for Nigerian-Indian partnerships.
He particularly encouraged Nigerian investors to work with Indian healthcare institutions to establish medical facilities in Nigeria, saying such investments could help reduce medical tourism while improving access to quality healthcare.
Beyond commerce, Muhammad said the mission was stepping up efforts to protect Nigerians in India by educating them on local laws, immigration requirements and cultural expectations.
He disclosed plans to upgrade the High Commission’s website and social media platforms with practical guidance for Nigerians travelling to India for education, business and healthcare, while also building a database of universities attended by Nigerian students.
The mission, he said, would engage Nigerian students from matriculation through graduation to promote compliance with visa conditions and help prospective students identify legitimate institutions.
For the High Commission, the strategy represents a dual diplomatic priority: protecting Nigerians abroad while turning Nigeria-India relations into a stronger platform for trade, investment and economic development.
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