India has urged a stronger role for Nigeria in BRICS, saying the country could enhance Global South representation and influence. India’s high commissioner to Nigeria, Abhishek Singh, made the call on Wednesday during a media meeting in Abuja.

Mr Singh said Nigeria’s status as Africa’s largest economy and one of the world’s most populous nations made its participation strategically important. He noted that Nigeria had been invited to the 18th BRICS Summit scheduled for September 12 to 13 in New Delhi. The summit is expected to focus on economic cooperation and sustainable development.

Mr Singh expressed hope that President Bola Tinubu would lead a high-powered Nigerian delegation to the gathering.

Mr Singh said, “Why do we feel that Nigeria’s participation as a BRICS partner can be significant? Because as Africa’s largest economy and one of the most populous nations in the world, Nigeria brings immense strategic, demographic and economic weight to BRICS.”

He said Nigeria’s participation would strengthen Africa’s representation and amplify developing countries’ voices in global economic governance discussions.

According to him, India and Nigeria share similar positions on many Global South issues, particularly the need for reforms of international institutions.

He said stronger Nigerian involvement in BRICS would provide another platform for advancing common interests among developing countries.

The envoy linked Nigeria’s growing relevance in BRICS to expanding economic relations between the two countries. He disclosed that bilateral trade rose to about nine billion dollars in the 2025-2026 financial year.

The figure represents an increase from $7.13 billion recorded during the 2024-2025 financial year.

Mr Singh said the growth reflected strengthening economic ties and showed significant potential for deeper engagement. He noted that more than 200 Indian companies currently operate in Nigeria across various sectors of the economy.

According to him, the companies have contributed significantly to employment generation and economic activity.

“This has translated into close to 100,000 brothers and sisters from Nigeria being employed by these companies,” Mr Singh said.

He described India-Nigeria relations as one of the most promising partnerships within the Global South.

Mr Singh stressed that India’s engagement with Nigeria was based on mutual benefit rather than a one-sided arrangement. He added that Nigeria’s growing economic influence and leadership role in Africa made it an increasingly important partner for India.

According to Singh, both countries remain committed to strengthening cooperation and advancing a stronger collective voice for developing nations.

(NAN)