Why India’s Modi Invited Tinubu To BRICS Summit

According to IReporter Online, the invitation was disclosed by India’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Abhishek Singh, during a briefing with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday.

Singh said Nigeria’s participation in the summit was considered significant because of the country’s economic strength, large population and strategic influence both within Africa and on the global stage.

The envoy expressed optimism that President Tinubu would attend the summit with a high-powered Nigerian delegation, describing the invitation as an indication of the importance India attaches to Nigeria’s role as a BRICS partner country.

He explained that Nigeria’s position as one of Africa’s largest economies and one of the world’s most populous countries gives it considerable strategic value within the BRICS partnership framework.

Singh further highlighted the longstanding relationship between India and Nigeria, noting that both countries have continued to support each other on important matters at international organisations. He specifically pointed to their shared aspirations for permanent representation on the United Nations Security Council.

The Indian envoy also revealed that approximately 60,000 Indians currently reside in Nigeria, with many having become deeply integrated into Nigerian society. Some members of the Indian community, he noted, are now part of second- and third-generation families in the country.

According to him, the Indian community has played an important role in strengthening ties between the two nations through its contributions to education, healthcare, commerce and cultural exchanges.

On economic relations, Singh disclosed that trade between Nigeria and India was nearing the $10 billion mark, while more than 200 Indian companies currently operate in Nigeria and employ close to 100,000 Nigerians.

He added that bilateral cooperation was expanding beyond trade, with both countries increasingly collaborating in areas such as defence, energy, healthcare, agriculture and technology.

The high commissioner said Tinubu’s expected participation in the BRICS summit would provide another opportunity to deepen relations between Nigeria and India while promoting stronger cooperation among countries across the Global South.