PM Modi To Receive Nigeria’s Prestigious GCON Award, Previously Bestowed Only On Queen Elizabeth

The Republic of Nigeria is set to confer the Grand Commander of The Order of the Niger (GCON) honour on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

(Photo Credit: PTI) PM Modi Conferred With GCON Award

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Thus PM Modi becomes the second individual outside Nigeria to be honored with the high rated GCON, the first being the late Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom in 1969.

PM Modi has been honored with international awards by various countries and this will be the 17th such award.

PM Modi land in Nigeria on Sunday which is the first country in the three nations’ tour.

After disembarking from his flight, PM Modi was treated to an effusive reception by the Minister for Federal Capital Territory in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.

"Thank you, President Tinubu. Landed a short while ago in Nigeria. Grateful for the warm welcome. May this visit deepen the bilateral friendship between our nations," PM Modi said in a post on X.

Thank you, President Tinubu.

Landed a short while ago in Nigeria. Grateful for the warm welcome. May this visit deepen the bilateral friendship between our nations. @officialABAT https://t.co/hlRiwj1XnV pic.twitter.com/iVW1Pr60Zi

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 16, 2024

Wike gave the PM the ‘Key to the city of Abuja’. This key represents the people’s confidence and respect for the PM in Nigeria.

The Prime Minister is also expected to engage in bilateral talks while in Nigeria in a bid to foster the relations of the two countries.

As part of his international engagements, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a three-nation visit to Nigeria, Brazil and Guyana from November 17 through to November 21.

PM Modi issued a statement expressing desire to make Nigeria the first country to visit after he accepted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s invitation owing to their strategic relations.

"At the invitation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, this will be my first visit to Nigeria, which is our close partner in the West African region. My visit will be an opportunity to build upon our Strategic Partnership that is based on shared belief in democracy and pluralism. I am also eagerly looking forward to meeting the Indian community and friends from Nigeria who have sent me warm welcome messages in Hindi," the statement said.

There is a long-standing cordial and well-established bilateral relation between India and Nigeria.

This visit by PM Modi is the first of any Indian Prime Minister to Nigeria since last visit 17 years ago.

India has begun to position itself as a development partner of Nigeria in two ways: – Through a provision of developmental assistance by way of concessional loans and Through provision of capacity building training programmes.

India and Nigeria have been strategic partners since 2007 and more so in the areas of economy, energy and defense. Over 200 Indian companies have made investments of up to USD 27 billion in critical sectors in Nigeria. Nigeria and India also have a solid development cooperation bond.

In the course of this trip, the Prime Minister is expected to hold discussions in order to assess the state of the strategic partnership between India and Nigeria and discuss possible ways to develop it.