Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a three-nation visit, will be honoured with Nigeria’s second highest national honour ‘The Grand Commander of The Order of the Niger’ today.
Queen Elizabeth is the only foreign dignitary who has been awarded GCON in 1969.
PM Modi landed in Nigeria on Sunday and received a warm welcome from the Indian diaspora.
He was received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja by the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike and minister of state for foreign affairs, Bianca Ojukwu.
Wike presented PM Modi with the ‘Key to the City’ of Abuja. The key symbolises the trust and honour bestowed on the PM by the people of Nigeria.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to hold bilateral discussions with President Bola Tinubu to strengthen the ties between both countries.
The visit by PM Modi is the first visit by a Prime Minister of India to Nigeria in 17 years.
India and Nigeria have been strategic partners since 2007 with growing economic, energy and defence collaboration.
More than 200 Indian companies have invested over USD 27 billion in important sectors in Nigeria. India and Nigeria also share a strong development cooperation partnership.