India will seek to further strengthen its military ties with Nigeria during Army Vice Chief Lt Gen S K Singh's four-day visit to that country.
The goodwill visit beginning today is expected to boost the defence cooperation between the two nations, Army spokesman Colonel Jaideep Dahiya said.
He will be meeting senior officials of the Nigerian Armed Forces and discuss ways to enhance military cooperation. The visit will further cement the historic ties between India and Nigeria which are based on mutual trust and understanding, he said.
The relationship was elevated to strategic partnership through 'Abuja Declaration' during the Prime Ministerial visit to that country in 2007 and an impetus was provided to defence cooperation by signing of a MoU on defence cooperation.
Defence ties with Nigeria have existed since 1963 and Indian Armed Forces have contributed significantly in laying the foundation of various training establishments of the Nigerian Armed Forces from 1963-86.
The armed forces of the two nations have been comprehensively cooperating in the fields of military training and UN Peacekeeping training.
