INDIAN REPUBLIC DAY: Nasir Saidu Adhama commends Indian Ambassador to Nigeria
Oru Leonard
The Special Assistant to the Nigerian President on Youths and Students, Nasir Saidu Adhama has commended the Indian Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Abhay Thakur over achievements in 2020.
Hon. Nasir who spoke to journalists during the Indian 72nd Republic Day reception in Nigeria, held on the 26 January, 2021 at the High Commission in Abuja, Nigeria, the effort of the High Commissione is obvious and assured Commission of maximum support in their sundry activities in Nigeria.
The High Commissioner of India to Nigeria, H.E Abhay Thakur who outlined successes attained last year despite COVID-19 disclosed that despite the pandemic, there were several important and positive developments in the India-Nigeria relations which rests on a solid foundation of age-old and long-standing ties, based on deep mutual respect, goodwill and shared concerns and priorities.
Outlining his achievements, he said, more than 15 bilateral business events between leading business chambers on both sides were organized with substantial success.
He stated further, Defence industries and R&D organizations of both sides held discussions on areas of mutual interest. An MOU on cooperation in peaceful uses of outer space was signed in August 2020.
“Considering that the last direct flight between India and Nigeria had taken place thirty (30) years ago in 1989, the year 2020 saw thirty-two (32) special direct flights, carrying more than ten thousand(10,000) passengers between Nigeria and India. We hope that these numbers will encourage airlines to commence direct flights in 2021, once international air travel normalizes. In addition to government of India donating a consignment of essential medicines to Nigeria, in Indian community set up and handed over a fifty (50) bed COVID-19 treatment and isolation centre to the Department of Health in Lagos. Under our E-ITEC capacity building program for mid-level professionals, sixty-two civilian E-training slots and sixty-nine (69) defence E-training slots were utilized by Nigerians.
“In fact, our relations saw more exchanges, more interactions and more cooperation during 2020 than in the preceding years, without necessarily meeting physically.
Disclosing anticipated projects with Nigeria for the year 2021, the Ambassador said, ” we are already looking forward to more exchanges in the fields of trade-economic cooperation, counter-terrorism, defence and security, foreign affairs, and consular matters”.
