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Indian defence delegation in Nigeria to enhance military cooperation

The delegation, comprising representatives of NSCS, Ministry of Defence, all three Armed Forces, Ministry of External Affairs and Defence Industry representatives, is the first of its kind to have this unique composition…reports Asian Lite News.

An Indian defence delegation is on a visit to Nigeria to scope and enhance the military cooperation avenues between the two countries.

“A composite delegation headed by the Military Adviser, National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) is currently visiting Nigeria to scope and enhance defence cooperation avenues with the Nigerian Defence establishments,” said a senior government officer.

The delegation, comprising representatives of NSCS, Ministry of Defence, all three Armed Forces, Ministry of External Affairs and Defence Industry representatives, is the first of its kind to have this unique composition.

The delegation has met with important Nigerian Security sector functionaries, including the Defence Minister, NSA, Chief of Army Staff, political entities, defence industry representatives to further cement bilateral relations.

India has been enhancing military cooperation with African nations in the recent past.

The foundation of India-Africa defence relations are based on the two guiding principles namely ‘SAGAR’ — Security and Growth for All in the Region — and ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ — The World is One Family — Indian Defence Ministry said last week

Looking into it, the Ministry had also announced that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will host the Defence Ministers of African Nations in the next India-Africa Defence Dialogue on the sidelines of the DefExpo that is scheduled to be held at Gandhinagar, Gujarat in March 2022.

The broad theme of this India-Africa Defence Dialogue will be ‘India-Africa: Adopting Strategy for Synergizing and Strengthening Defence and Security Cooperation’.

The first-ever India-Africa Defence Ministers Conclave (IADMC) was held in Lucknow in conjunction with DefExpo on February 6, 2020 and was co-organised by the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of External Affairs.

It was the first in the series of Pan-Africa events at the Ministerial level in the run-up to India-Africa Forum Summit IV. A Joint Declaration, ‘Lucknow Declaration’ was adopted after the conclusion of IADMC 2020 as an outcome document of the conclave.

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Africa News Crime

Bandits kill 88 in Nigeria

A man stands by a burnt bicycle in Gwaska village, Nigeria's northwest state of Kaduna, on May 8, 2018. The death toll of an attack on Gwaska village in Kaduna has risen to 73. (Xinhua/Olatunji Saliu/IANS)

The bandits launched attacks on eight different communities in the Danko-Wasagu local government area of the state…reports Asian Lite News

At least 88 people were killed and several others injured following attacks by bandits in Nigeria’s northwestern state of Kebbi, police confirmed.

The bandits launched attacks on eight different communities in the Danko-Wasagu local government area of the state, Nafi’u Abubakar, the state police spokesperson told reporters on Saturday.

“Initially, the bodies recovered were 66 but as I am talking to you now, about 88 bodies have been recovered,” Xinhua news agency quoted Abubakar as saying.

Security operatives were deployed to the communities to forestall further attacks, he said.

In April, nine policemen and two members of a civilian defence group in Kebbi were killed while repelling an attack.

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-Top News COVID-19 USA

India donates 100,000 doses of Covid vaccine to Nigeria

The vaccines donated by India to Nigeria will help boost the number of Nigerians to be vaccinated by about 50,000, Mustafa, who is the Chairman of Nigeria’s Presidential Task Force on Covid-19…reports Asian Lite News.

Demonstrating its role as the pharmacy of the world, India on Tuesday donated 100,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines to Nigeria.

A consignment of 100,000 doses of ‘Made in India’ Covid-19 vaccines manufactured by Serum Institute of India was formally handed over to Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation by Deputy High Commissioner of India, VSDL Surendra, said a tweet by the High Commission of India, Abuja, Nigeria.

Earlier, a release by the High Commission of India dated April 2 had said that the vaccines arrived at Abuja Airport from Mumbai via Addis Ababa on 26 March at 1200 hrs. The consignment was delivered to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency by the Indian High Commission.

Stating that the Covishield vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India was the first Covid-19 vaccine approved by NAFDAC, Nigeria, the High Commission’s release said that its first lot of 3.92 million doses of the vaccines under the World Health Organisation (WHO) backed COVAX facility had reached Nigeria on March 2.

AstraZeneca vaccine

The bilateral donation of 100,000 doses of the ‘Made in India’ vaccine is in fulfillment of the announcement made by the High Commissioner of India Abhay Thakur at that time, the released added.

The vaccines donated by India to Nigeria will help boost the number of Nigerians to be vaccinated by about 50,000, Mustafa, who is the Chairman of Nigeria’s Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, was quoted as saying by a report in the local Channels Television.

Nigeria had launched its Covid-19 vaccination drive after receiving vaccine doses under COVAX.

The Channels Television report said Nigeria had vaccinated 964,387 eligible persons against the Covid-19 virus, according to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has said it is seeking to vaccinate no fewer than 70 percent of its over 200 million-strong population, it said.

More vaccine doses are still expected from COVAX as well as from an African Union scheme financed by the African Export-Import Bank, it noted.

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