By Jide Akinseye
At the recently held Indian 2026 Trade Expo, witnessed by Farmlife Magazine, the High Commissioner of India to Nigeria, H.E. Abhishek Singh, urged Indian community in Nigeria to remain law-abiding and conduct their business activities in accordance with best practices and emphasises respect for Nigeria’s democratic system and legal framework.
The Inaugural event was held at Landmark Event Centre in Lagos, Nigeria.
“Nigeria operates under a democratic system and therefore all businesses must respect the rule of law” . The High Commissioner said
He encouraged Indian entrepreneurs and professionals operating in Nigeria to maintain ethical standards and comply with regulatory requirements while conducting their activities, while reaffirming that India and Nigeria share stable diplomatic and economic relations, adding that the High Commission remains ready to support Indian nationals and businesses whenever necessary.
He assured the gathering that the interests of Indians living and working in Nigeria are protected, noting that the Nigerian government has continued to provide assurances and support that encourage foreign investment and economic collaboration.
According to him, the strong diplomatic ties between the two nations should encourage Indian investors to continue expanding their business presence in Nigeria.
The High Commissioner also highlighted the diversity of Indian products and services reaching the Nigerian market, pointing to sectors such as pharmaceuticals and renewable energy as areas where Indian companies have made notable contributions.
He observed that Lagos remains the central hub of economic activity in Nigeria and provides a strategic platform for trade, manufacturing and regional expansion.
Nigeria and Indian have shared colonial heritage and currently host more than 200 companies owned or operated by Indians or persons of Indian origin.
It is however estimated that Indian firms have invested about 27 billion dollars cumulatively in Nigeria across sectors including pharmaceuticals, power generation and transmission, manufacturing, hospitality, retail, construction and aviation services.
Singh also noted that the two countries share a long history of diplomatic relations built on mutual respect, democratic values and strong people-to-people ties.
According to him, India and Nigeria’s cooperation is anchored on three key pillars—trade, technology and tourism. The Consul General explained that bilateral trade between the two countries has remained strong and diversified, with Indian companies investing across sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals and consumer goods, while Nigeria remains an important energy partner for India.
“the trade expo, serves as a platform to expand supply chains, encourage collaboration among small and medium enterprises, and explore joint ventures that could unlock new opportunities for both economies. He added that stronger business-to-business connections and improved logistics could further increase trade volumes and create employment in both countries” . He said.
Consul General highlighted India’s progress in the areas of technology such as digital transformation, fintech innovation, healthcare technology and renewable energy solutions, while noting that Nigeria’s rapidly growing technology ecosystem and youthful population provide strong opportunities for collaboration in areas such as digital payments, information technology services, agritech, edtech and skills development.
Present at the event is the Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, also stated that the trade expo provides an important platform for strengthening economic engagement between Nigeria and India.
She explained that Indian businesses have historically played an important role in Nigeria’s industrial development, particularly in sectors such as manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, agricultural processing and technology. According to her, Nigeria is implementing reforms aimed at improving the ease of doing business, including digitalisation of business registration processes and improvements in trade documentation and customs procedures.
“Lagos continues to serve as the primary gateway for investment into Nigeria and the wider West African region, citing the state’s population of more than 23 million people and access to a regional market of over 400 million consumers. She also highlighted strategic infrastructure projects such as the Lekki Deep Sea Port and the Lekki Free Zone as key developments strengthening the state’s logistics and industrial capacity”. The Commissioner added.
She encouraged Indian investors to explore opportunities in sectors including digital technology, manufacturing, agriculture value chains, healthcare, financial services and sustainable energy.
She also pointed out that businesses operating in Nigeria can leverage the opportunities created by the African Continental Free Trade Area to access one of the largest integrated markets in the world.
The India Trade Expo is an initiative of Indian High Commission in Nigeria in partnership with the India Professionals Forum and serves as a platform to provide Indian companies in Nigeria with an opportunity to showcase their potential, entrepreneurship and commitment to the Nigerian economy.
