This article describes India's development partnership with Nigeria and cooperation in training, health, space and defence. It is based on the MEA brief of April 2026, and all figures are given as that brief states them.

Development partnership

According to the MEA brief of April 2026, India is emerging as a development partner of Nigeria on two fronts: developmental assistance through concessional loans, and capacity building training programmes. In total, the Government of India has extended Lines of Credit (LoC) worth US$ 395.44 million to Nigeria.

Training under ITEC

India has supported Nigeria's capacity building under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Program since 1964. Every year, India offers Nigeria about 250 civilian and 150 defence training slots under ITEC and e-ITEC.

Training under the India-Africa Forum Summit

After the third India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-III), held in New Delhi in October 2015, India has offered Nigeria additional training programmes in subjects ranging from agriculture, health, hydropower and water resources to others. In the year 2018-19, about 74 Nigerians were trained under the IAFS-III Program in premier Indian institutions.

COVID-19 assistance

During the COVID-19 pandemic, India donated a 7.8 tons consignment of essential medicines, including HCQS and antibiotics, to Nigeria on 17 July 2020. On 2 March 2021, the Government of India supplied a consignment of 3.92 million doses of Covishield vaccine from the Serum Institute of India (SII) to Nigeria under the Covax scheme of GAVI. According to the brief, Covishield was the first Covid-19 vaccine approved by NAFDAC.

India also gifted 100,000 doses of Covishield vaccines to Nigeria on 26 March 2021. In January 2022, India exported an additional 5.742 million doses of Covishield vaccines to Nigeria under the Covax scheme.

Health engagement

Nigerian health ministers have attended health events in India. Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Minister of Health, attended the One World TB Summit at Varanasi from 23-26 March 2023. Mr. Ekunmankama Joseph N, MoS Health, attended the One Earth One Health event in New Delhi from 26-28 April 2023, the 6th Edition of Advantage Health care India (AHCI 2023).

Space cooperation

An MoU on cooperation in outer space was signed between India and Nigeria on 13 August 2020 in Abuja. The signing was witnessed online by MoS (EA) Mr. V. Muraleedharan and Nigeria's Minister of Science & Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu. The MoU envisages cooperation in applications in agriculture, environment and mining, micro and mini satellites, and capacity building.

Defence cooperation

According to the brief, military interactions between India and Nigeria began in earnest after Nigeria's independence in 1960. India helped set up military institutions including the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) at Kaduna and the Naval College at Port Harcourt, besides other training establishments. Several Nigerian officers have trained in Indian military institutions, including former Nigerian Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida and Muhammadu Buhari.

A bilateral MoU on Defence Cooperation was signed in October 2007. The armed forces of both nations have attended military training together, taken part in exchange programmes and served in UN Peace Keeping Operations. The brief describes defence cooperation as an integral component of the strategic partnership, with areas including counter terrorism and counterinsurgency (CT/CI), sea piracy and exchange visits between training institutes.

Joint Defence Coordination Committee

The Joint Defence Coordination Committee (JDCC) explores ways to enhance bilateral defence cooperation. The brief lists five meetings:

  • 1st meeting, April 2013, New Delhi
  • 2nd meeting, May 2014, Abuja
  • 3rd meeting, August 2015, New Delhi
  • 4th meeting, November 2017, Abuja
  • 5th meeting, January 2019, New Delhi

Security and naval dialogues

The first Strategic and Counter-Terrorism Dialogue between the National Security Advisors was held in New Delhi on 04-05 March 2021. Nigeria's NSA, Mr Nuhu Ribadu, visited India for the 2nd India Nigeria Counter Terrorism Dialogue from 04 to 06 November 2024.

The 2nd Navy to Navy Staff talks between India and Nigeria were held from 04 to 06 November 2024. An Indian delegation led by Rear Admiral Manish Chadha visited Nigeria for the talks, which covered all aspects of naval cooperation.

Recent defence engagements

  • INS Tushil visited Lagos from 12 to 15 January 2025, on its maiden operational deployment after commissioning in December 2024.
  • A Nigerian delegation led by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall H B Abubakar, with the Chief of Training, visited Bengaluru from 10 to 14 February 2025 for Aero India 2025.
  • Dr Bello Mohd Matawalle, Minister of State for Defence, visited India from 09 to 14 August 2025, interacting with RRM and visiting Indian defence industries in Delhi and Bengaluru.
  • Maj Gen Aligbe Kevin, Commander, Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), and Maj Gen Adedoja Ademola, Commandant, Nigerian Armed Forces Leadership and Peace Keeping Centre, represented the Nigerian Army at the inaugural UN TCC Army Chief's Conclave in Delhi from 13 to 17 October 2025.
  • Rear Admiral Abdulahamid Baba-inna, Naval Secretary, Nigerian Navy, and Commodore AA Abu took part in IFR 2026 and MILAN 2026 in Visakhapatnam from 15 to 20 February 2026.