Nigeria has sought an extension of India’s existing amnesty arrangement for Nigerians who have overstayed their visas, as both countries moved to strengthen consular cooperation and address the welfare of Nigerians living in India.
The request was made by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, during bilateral discussions with her Indian counterpart, Dr. S. Jaishankar, on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi.
The minister’s Special Assistant on Communication and New Media, Dr. Magnus Eze, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying Odumegwu-Ojukwu appealed for further extension of the amnesty to allow affected Nigerians to return home voluntarily without penalties.
The ministers also discussed the possibility of concluding a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, which would establish a framework for the humane and orderly transfer of eligible prisoners between Nigeria and India.
Beyond consular concerns, the talks focused on expanding trade and investment between both countries, with the ministers stressing the need to deepen mutually beneficial economic cooperation.
They also identified education and cultural exchanges as key areas for strengthening people-to-people relations, with increased collaboration expected to promote mutual understanding and create broader opportunities for citizens of both countries.
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The meeting formed part of Nigeria’s diplomatic engagements on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit, hosted by India under the theme, “Building Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
Nigeria’s participation in the summit is expected to provide opportunities to advance bilateral partnerships with India and other emerging economies, expand economic opportunities and strengthen South-South cooperation.
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