Abuja: Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will confer the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), the country’s second-highest national award, on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his first official visit to Nigeria. The recognition places PM Modi among an elite group of foreign dignitaries, with the only other recipient being Queen Elizabeth II in 1969.
PM Modi arrived in Abuja on Sunday as part of a three-nation diplomatic tour, which also includes Brazil and Guyana. The visit marks the first time in 17 years that an Indian Prime Minister has visited Nigeria, underscoring the significance of this trip in strengthening the bilateral relationship between the two nations. Upon arrival, PM Modi was warmly welcomed by President Tinubu at Abuja airport.
Taking to social media platform X, PM Modi expressed his gratitude, saying, “Landed a short while ago in Nigeria. Grateful for the warm welcome. May this visit deepen the bilateral friendship between our nations.”
This award will be the 17th international honour conferred on PM Modi. Earlier this week, Dominica announced its highest national honour, the ‘Dominica Award of Honour,’ in recognition of his pivotal support during the COVID-19 pandemic and his efforts to strengthen India-Dominica relations. Dominica’s President Sylvanie Burton is set to present the award during the India-CARICOM Summit in Guyana from November 19 to 21.
PM Modi’s diplomatic tour, which runs from November 16 to 21, will also take him to Brazil for the G20 Leaders’ Summit before concluding in Guyana. This will be the first state visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Guyana in over 50 years.
During his visit to Nigeria, PM Modi was also greeted by enthusiastic members of the Indian diaspora, who expressed their excitement and support for the visit. The trip highlights India’s ongoing commitment to bolstering ties with key global partners across Africa and beyond.
