Nigeria and India are moving towards a deeper aviation partnership, with training, technical capacity building and knowledge transfer emerging as key areas of cooperation between both countries.
The development followed a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday between the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Olorogun Festus Keyamo, and the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency Abhishek Singh, who paid a courtesy visit to the Ministry’s headquarters.
Singh said Nigeria and India had significant opportunities to learn from each other, particularly in aviation, noting that his visits to Nigerian airports had strengthened his belief in the potential for greater collaboration between the two countries.
Six Areas Identified for Cooperation
According to the envoy, there are at least six or seven areas within the aviation sector where Nigeria and India could work together to mutual benefit.
He described the potential for collaboration as tremendous and expressed India’s readiness to deepen its engagement with Nigeria’s aviation industry.
The High Commissioner also invited Keyamo to visit India, saying the country’s Minister of Civil Aviation, whom he described as young and dynamic, would equally be interested in visiting Nigeria.
Singh said such high-level engagements would provide an opportunity for both countries to explore areas of mutual interest and develop a framework for stronger aviation cooperation.
Over 250 Nigerians Benefit From Indian Training
The Indian envoy also highlighted capacity building as an area where both countries already have an established relationship.
He disclosed that more than 250 Nigerians benefit from India’s capacity-building programme annually, adding that India was prepared to deepen the initiative.
Singh described Nigeria as a great country and said India held the country in high regard, stressing that his government would be pleased to receive the Nigerian aviation minister.
Keyamo Prioritises Skills, Knowledge Transfer
Responding, Keyamo thanked the High Commissioner for the visit and welcomed the proposals for greater cooperation between Nigeria and India.
The Minister said India’s experience in aviation, particularly its investment in human capacity development, offered valuable lessons for Nigeria as the Federal Government advances the Renewed Hope Agenda in the aviation and aerospace sector.
He stressed that Nigeria’s aviation development must go beyond infrastructure to include the development of highly skilled professionals capable of competing at the global level.
Keyamo identified training, capacity building and knowledge transfer as priority areas for the proposed partnership.
He said cooperation with India should be structured to equip Nigerian engineers, pilots, air traffic controllers and other aviation professionals with the technical expertise, exposure and competencies required to drive the sector’s sustainable growth.
Technical Team to Work Out Partnership
To advance the proposal, the Minister directed the establishment of a technical team to work out the details of the proposed aviation partnership between Nigeria and India.
The team is expected to examine the areas of cooperation and develop a framework that will translate the proposed bilateral relationship into practical programmes and initiatives for Nigeria’s aviation and aerospace sector.
The meeting therefore marks a fresh step towards expanding Nigeria’s international aviation partnerships, with human capital development and technical cooperation placed at the centre of the proposed engagement.