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Wide ranging pacts signed with Nigeria
Sunil Dang onboard with PM's
special aircraft
 Abuja:
Nigeria and India yesterday signed four agreements covering relations,
capacity building, consultations and defence co-operation.
The ceremony was part of the three-day visit to Nigeria by the Prime
Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, who arrived in Abuja on Sunday.
The prime minister has also addressed a joint session of the National
Assembly.
Signed before the leaders of the two countries, the agreements include a
memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Foreign Service Institute
of India and the Nigerian Foreign Service Academy. Also signed was an
MOU between the Indian Council for World Affairs and the Nigerian
Institute of International Affairs, Protocol for Foreign Office
Consultations and an MOU on Defence Co-operation.
The two countries also agreed to broaden co-operation by finalising some
other agreements within the next six months.
The agreements to be finalised include a double taxation avoidance
agreement, bilateral investment promotion and protection agreement and
bilateral inter-governmental science and technology agreement.
They are also to renew the 1976 bilateral air services agreement and
work out a mutual legal assistance treaty, as well as an extradition
treaty.
Also to be renewed are trade agreement, agreement on co-operation
against trafficking of drugs and a cultural exchange programme (2008 -
2010).
The defence pact was signed on behalf of the two nations by Nigeria's
permanent secretary in the ministry of defence and India's secretary of
defence while the other agreements were signed by Nigeria's minister of
state (1) for foreign affairs, Alhaji Tijjani Kaura, and his Indian
counterpart, Mr Anand Sharma.
The permanent secretary will soon travel to India to follow up on
aspects of the defence pact.
Earlier, while addressing the joint session of the National Assembly,
Prime minister Singh declared that no reform of the Security Council
would be complete without an adequate representation from Africa.
He also threw his weight behind Nigeria's view that the general Assembly
should resume its role as the pre-eminent organ of the United Nations as
originally envisaged in the UN charter.
In what Singh described as "India, Nigeria and our partnership with
Africa in the 21st century," the Indian head of government observed, "In
the past, we have shared the pain of subjugation and the joy of freedom
and liberation.
"We have worked shoulder to shoulder in the fight against apartheid and
racial discrimination. We have worked together in the Non-aligned
Movement to promote South-South Cooperation for development.
"Today, we need to stand ever more united to meet the challenges of the
new millennium.
"India is the largest democracy in the world; Nigeria is the largest
democracy in Africa. We are multi-religious, multi-ethnic and
multi-lingual societies. Our societies embrace modernity while
preserving their traditions. There is a natural logic in ties between
our two countries."Singh expressed gratitude to Nigeria for its
hospitality and invited President Umaru Yar'Adua to visit India at a
mutually convenient date.
While the men in government were busy signing agreements, the first lady
of India, Gursharan Kaur, and her host, Turai Yar'Adua, also conducted
activities in service of humanity.
Mrs. Yar'Adua feted her guest to a tea party where both of them
recognised the cultural affirnities between their countries.
The two first ladies also toured the presidential villa zoo and later
visited an orphanage in Karu, Abuja, where they delivered gifts to the
children.
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