India and Nigeria renew ties as Modi visits [Video]

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu met Sunday to renew what they call the “strategic partnership” between two major nations of Asia and Africa.

Nigeria’s capital Abuja was Modi’s first stop in a tour that will take the Indian premier on to the G20 summit in Brazil, and to Guyana.

The visit was billed by New Delhi as a meeting of the largest democracy in the world and the largest in Africa, “natural partners” as both push for a more central role in world affairs.

Modi was welcomed to the Nigerian presidency by a military pipe band and honour guard, before entering closed-door talks with Tinubu and senior officials at his Aso Rock residence.

“Our cooperation is very strong and there are many new possibilities as well for us to take our cooperation forward,” Modi said in preliminary remarks as talks got underway.

“As we just …