- Safiu Kehinde
The world most populous nation, India, has sought for a renewed crude oil purchase from Nigeria in a bid to deepen strategic economic relationship and rebuild bilateral trade towards its previous high of nearly $15 billion.
Indian Prime Minister, Nerandra Modi, reportedly pitched for the renewal of the deal, stressing that stronger energy trade could help return commercial exchanges between both countries to previous levels.
This was made known in a statement issued on Monday by Nigerian Vice President, Kashim Shettima.
According to the statement, the renewed commitment followed a bilateral meeting between Shettima and Modi on the sidelines of the just-concluded BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi.
Modi had during the meeting made a case for the renewed crude purchases from Nigeria.
Responding, Shettima, as quoted in the statement, said, “Nigeria would examine the request as part of broader efforts by President Bola Tinubu ’s administration to attract investment and build strategic partnerships capable of expanding the country’s productive capacity.”
