Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in New Delhi to represent President Bola Tinubu at the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit, as Nigeria pushes to deepen trade ties with India beyond the traditional commodities exchange that has kept bilateral trade at roughly $14 billion.
Shettima leads a high-level delegation that includes Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Industry, Trade and Investment Minister Jumoke Oduwole, Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy Minister Bosun Tijani, and Environment Minister Balarabe Lawal.
Oduwole said ahead of the summit that Indian investors had expressed interest in meeting the delegation, reflecting government efforts to translate Nigeria’s BRICS membership into concrete investment.
She said Nigeria also wants to rebuild energy trade with India, especially crude oil exports that have declined in recent years. “India used to buy Nigerian oil quite a lot, so we are looking at how to expand that with everything going on in the world,” she said, adding that stronger ties with India would support the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Beyond oil, the delegation is pursuing opportunities in agriculture, technology, artificial intelligence, digital economy and industrial development. Odumegwu-Ojukwu said India’s experience using technology to engage its youthful population held particular relevance for Nigeria, given the country’s large youth demographic.
