Indian minister of state for petroleum and natural gas R.P.N. Singh on Friday arrived in Nigeria to invite President Goodluck Jonathan and foreign minister Henry Odein Ajumogobia to the second Indian-African forum summit scheduled in Addis Ababa later in May.
The minister arrived at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Lagos this morning and later proceeded to Abuja, the administrative capital where he is also expected to issue statements on the recently concluded elections in Nigeria during his two-day official visit.
"I came as the special envoy of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to deliver this official letter. The first forum held in India became very successful and led to good co-operation. This reiterates our stand to work closely with Africa" minister Singh told PTI in Lagos.
Nigeria is historically close to India with the two countries being the largest democracies in their region, he said, adding that Nigeria’s participation would determine on how India and Africa can move forward in their partnership.
On May 24 and 25 India will hold a summit with Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which also served as the headquarters of the African Union.
The first of such meeting was held on from April 4 to 8 in 2008 between the head of state of India and those of 14 African countries chosen by the African Union.
Nigeria which just finished a general election adjudged to be the best so far by local and foreign observers since her return to democracy in 1999 is India’s largest trading and investment partner in African continent.