NEW DELHI, 24 August 2026 — Nigeria’s newly appointed High Commissioner to India, Ambassador Muhammad Saidu Dahiru, has formally assumed office after presenting his Letters of Credence to President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, India’s presidential residence.

The ceremony, held in a cordial atmosphere, also saw the presentation of credentials by diplomats from South Sudan, the UAE, Germany, Moldova and Sweden.

Accompanied by his wife, Mrs Rukayya S.D. Muhammad, and five High Commission officials, Ambassador Dahiru conveyed the warm greetings of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to President Murmu, the Indian Government and people.

The new High Commissioner is placing practical economic diplomacy and a citizen-centred foreign policy at the heart of his mission, with trade, investment and business-to-business engagement among his immediate priorities.

A key objective will be to help Nigerian companies access the Indian market while attracting greater Indian investment into Nigeria.

Amb. Saidu and India President

Ambassador Dahiru has identified healthcare and pharmaceuticals, information technology and digital transformation, agriculture, energy and manufacturing, defence, security and infrastructure, education, skills development and cultural exchanges as major areas for expanded cooperation.

Healthcare and education offer particularly significant opportunities. Nigeria and India can deepen pharmaceutical cooperation, medical training, technology transfer and healthcare investment, while stronger partnerships between universities, research institutions and technical organisations could expand opportunities in medicine, engineering, technology, agriculture and skills development.

The wider relationship already covers trade, investment, technology, health, education, defence and cultural cooperation, with India recognised by Nigeria as a valued friend and strategic partner.

The appointment comes as both countries seek to translate their longstanding diplomatic friendship into greater economic and practical benefits for their citizens.

For Ambassador Saidu Dahiru, the mission is therefore clear: to move Nigeria–India relations from longstanding friendship towards stronger trade, investment, knowledge, healthcare, skills and business partnerships that deliver measurable opportunities for Nigerians and Indians alike.

His formal presentation of credentials to President Murmu today marks the beginning of that new chapter.