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India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Nigeria this week, the first by an Indian head of state since 2007.
The two-day trip comes as the country seeks to deepen ties with Africa since welcoming the African Union last year as a permanent G20 member.
But some critics say India’s attempt to champion its relationship with Africa has not lived up to expectations. “Far from displaying signs of a rapid take-off, ties between continent and country are bumpy, with considerable barriers preventing opportunities from being seized,” according to analysis in The Diplomat.
Modi’s Nigeria visit is at the invitation of President Bola Tinubu, who has been seeking more foreign investment since assuming office last year. One of Tinubu’s first official presidential trips was to India during last year’s G20 Summit. Bilateral trade between India and Nigeria grew by nearly 70% between 2021 and 2022 to almost $15 billion.
