Nigeria-India trade hits $9bn, up 26% in one year – Envoy

Bilateral trade between Nigeria and India has experienced significant growth, reaching approximately $9 billion in the 2025-26 financial year. This represents a 26% increase from the $7.13 billion recorded in the previous year, according to Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Abishek Singh. The envoy made these remarks during a media briefing in Abuja, highlighting the expanding economic ties between the two nations.

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Very happy to report that the trade for the financial year 2025-26 stands at around US dollar 9 billion, which is up from US dollar 7.13 billion in the financial year 2024-25

Beyond trade figures, Singh emphasized the substantial impact of Indian companies operating in Nigeria. These companies have generated close to 100,000 jobs for Nigerians, positioning them as the second-largest employers in the country, following only the Federal Government of Nigeria. Indian firms are active across various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, power, construction, consumer goods, healthcare, and services, with many establishing production facilities within Nigeria.

The High Commissioner described the burgeoning trade as a reflection of an expanding strategic partnership that has moved beyond traditional oil and historical connections. The collaboration now encompasses critical areas such as investment, security, technology, agriculture, and healthcare. This evolution signifies a multidimensional partnership linking Nigeria, a major African economy, with India, a leading global power.

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And this has translated into close to 100,000 brothers and sisters from Nigeria being deployed, employed by these companies. And that makes these Indian companies the second largest employer of Nigerian people after the Federal Government of Nigeria

Singh also recalled the long-standing relationship between Nigeria and India, rooted in anti-colonial solidarity and South-South cooperation. India established its Liaison Office in Lagos in 1958, prior to Nigeria's independence. The relationship was elevated to a Strategic Partnership during the Indian Prime Minister's visit to Nigeria in October 2007. High-level political engagements, including Nigerian President Bola Tinubu's visit to India in September 2023 and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to Nigeria in November 2024, have further solidified these ties, leading to extensive discussions on trade, investment, defense, and technology.

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When I say Strategic Partnership, what does it mean? It means that India-Nigeria relations are no longer defined only by historical goodwill or oil trade