LAGOS (AFP) — Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh left Nigeria at the end of a three-day visit, the first by an Indian premier to the oil-rich west African country in 45 years, state media reported Tuesday.
Before his departure, Singh was treated to a farewell parade by the Brigade of Guards of the Nigerian Army at a colourful ceremony which lasted about 10 minutes in Abuja, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said.
The highpoint of the state visit was the signing on Monday of a slew of cooperation agreements to strengthen relations between the two countries.
They both reaffirmed "their understanding that no reform of the United Nations would be complete without reform of the UN Security Council," according to a joint statement.
Singh and Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua also agreed to put in place over the next six months a slew of agreements on promoting and protecting investments, avoiding double taxation, air services, mutual legal assistance and science and technology.
India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru visited Lagos in 1962 but despite growing trade links, the two nations have had few top-level bilateral exchanges in the past 45 years.
Nigeria last year accounted for 11 percent of India's petroleum needs.
Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved. More »
