…Deepens ties with India, seeks investment in oil, pharma, defence, digital economy

Vice President Kashim Shettima has returned to Nigeria after a high-level diplomatic and economic engagement in India, where he represented President Bola Tinubu at the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi.
The Vice President’s participation in the summit was marked by renewed efforts to attract investment, expand trade and strengthen Nigeria’s strategic partnerships with India and other BRICS member and partner countries.
A major outcome of the visit was Shettima’s meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during which both leaders explored opportunities to deepen economic cooperation between Nigeria and India.

Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, office of the Vice President, in a statement on Tuesday, explained that the discussions focused on renewed crude oil trade, pharmaceuticals, defence, digital technology, fintech, renewable energy and other strategic areas with potential to expand bilateral trade and investment.

Shettima also held talks with the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, where he reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to multilateralism and the pursuit of a more inclusive global economic order.

At the BRICS summit, the Vice President delivered President Tinubu’s message on the need for reforms of global governance structures and international financial institutions, while highlighting Nigeria’s growing economic significance in Africa.

He also positioned Nigeria as a strategic gateway to the continent’s expanding market, particularly through the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Beyond the summit’s plenary sessions, the Nigerian delegation used the visit to deepen engagements with BRICS members and partner countries across critical sectors, including agriculture, artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, manufacturing, healthcare, energy and human-capital development.

The engagements formed part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to reposition Nigeria as an attractive destination for foreign investment while expanding the country’s economic and diplomatic partnerships beyond traditional markets.

Presidency officials say Shettima’s return marks the conclusion of the high-level engagements in India, with the outcomes expected to feed into ongoing efforts by the Tinubu administration to boost investment, strengthen economic diplomacy and open new markets for Nigeria.