Vice President Kashim Shettima on Sunday held a meeting with the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in New Delhi, during the BRICS summit.

In a statement on Sunday the spokesperson for the vice president, Stanley Nkwocha, the two countries committed to improving trade across major economic sectors.

“Both countries have committed to drastically improving trade across major economic sectors, including oil, renewable energy, defence, power, capacity building, technology, health, and clean energy,” he said.

“Prime Minister Modi, who specifically thanked Nigeria for protecting and peacefully hosting about 80,000 Indians living in Nigeria, made a case for renewed crude purchase from his Nigerian counterpart, saying such a move would boost trade between both nations, which had dropped annually to about $9 billion from about $14 billion years back,” Mr Nkwocha noted.

The Peoples Gazette earlier reported that the vice president would represent President Bola Tinubu at the 18th BRICS leaders’ summit.

Mr Shettima promised to look into the request, emphasising partnerships that were vital to Nigeria, particularly in the pharmaceutical, defense, creative, and digital technology sectors.

“President Tinubu is keen on developing these industries to benefit millions of Nigerian youth through foreign investments and strategic partnerships,” he said.