Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister Unveils Focus of India Talks

<p><strong>Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs&comma; Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu&comma; has unveiled the key areas of bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and India&comma; with economic relations&comma; consular issues&comma; education and cultural exchanges topping discussions&period;<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Odumegwu-Ojukwu disclosed this during a bilateral meeting with India’s External Affairs Minister&comma; Dr&period; S&period; Jaishankar&comma; on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi&period;<&sol;p><p class&equals;"ari-link"><strong>Read also&colon;<&sol;strong> <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;sparknewsdaily&period;com&period;ng&sol;bianca-obasanjo-escort-ex-sierra-leone-president-koroma-back-to-freetown&sol;">Bianca&comma; Obasanjo Escort Ex-Sierra Leone President Koroma Back to Freetown<&sol;a><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The minister’s Special Assistant on Communication and New Media&comma; Dr&period; Magnus Eze&comma; disclosed this in a statement on Sunday&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>A major issue raised by Odumegwu-Ojukwu was the welfare of Nigerians living in India&comma; particularly those who have overstayed their visas&period;<&sol;p><p class&equals;"ari-link"><strong>Read also&colon;<&sol;strong> <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;sparknewsdaily&period;com&period;ng&sol;tcn-restores-karu-keffi-akwanga-power-line-after-three-towers-collapse&sol;">TCN Restores Karu-Keffi-Akwanga Power Line After Three Towers Collapse<&sol;a><&sol;p><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>She appealed for an extension of the existing amnesty arrangement to allow affected Nigerians to return home voluntarily without penalties&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The two ministers also discussed the proposed conclusion of a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons&comma; which would establish a framework for the orderly and humane transfer of eligible prisoners between the two countries&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>On economic cooperation&comma; the ministers explored ways to expand trade and investment and deepen mutually beneficial partnerships between Nigeria and India&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p class&equals;"ari-link"><strong>Read also&colon;<&sol;strong> <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;sparknewsdaily&period;com&period;ng&sol;ebola-fg-quarantines-high-risk-contacts-as-infected-patient-shows-improvement&sol;">Ebola&colon; FG Quarantines High-Risk Contacts as Infected Patient Shows Improvement<&sol;a><&sol;p><p>They also identified education and cultural exchanges as key areas for strengthening people-to-people relations and promoting greater understanding between citizens of both countries&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The meeting was part of Nigeria’s diplomatic engagements at the BRICS summit&comma; as the country seeks to use its participation to expand economic opportunities&comma; strengthen bilateral relations and promote South-South cooperation&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;