President Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday awarded the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The conferment took place during the Nigeria-India bilateral meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
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Explaining the gesture, President Tinubu noted that the honour was a symbol of Nigeria’s appreciation and its dedication to strengthening ties with India. He highlighted that the invitation extended to Prime Minister Modi aimed to rejuvenate and elevate the longstanding partnership between the two nations.
“Nigeria values its excellent relationship with India, and we are working to deepen and broaden the same for the mutual benefit of our two friendly countries,” Tinubu stated. He further commended Modi’s democratic achievements, saying, “You represent a strong commitment to democratic values and norms. Winning three consecutive elections in a complex society is a feat we deeply respect.”
President Tinubu then declared, “I will confer on you today, the Prime Minister of India, Nigeria’s national honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger. This signifies Nigeria’s appreciation and commitment to India as a partner.”
In response, Prime Minister Modi expressed his condolences to Nigeria over the recent flood disasters, including the major incident in Maiduguri. He pledged to support the country’s ongoing humanitarian efforts with a donation of 20 tons of relief materials.
