Vice President Kashim Shettima has returned to Nigeria after representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi, India.
During the visit, VP Shettima participated in the summit’s high-level sessions and held bilateral engagements aimed at advancing Nigeria’s economic and diplomatic interests.
Among the key engagements was a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where both sides discussed renewed crude oil trade, investment, pharmaceuticals, defence, digital technology, fintech, renewable energy and other strategic sectors.
Shettima’s meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi produced a commitment to deepen economic relations and work towards restoring bilateral trade to its previous peak of about $15 billion. Trade had fallen from $14.95 billion in 2021–22 to $7.13 billion in 2024–25, before recovering to about $9 billion in 2025–26
India is seeking to resume stronger purchases of Nigerian crude. This could provide a larger market for Nigeria’s oil exports and help strengthen foreign-exchange earnings, although the government said it would examine the request within its broader investment strategy.
Shettima also met with the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, reaffirming Nigeria’s support for multilateralism and a more inclusive global economic order.
Nigeria reaffirmed its support for the World Trade Organization and a more inclusive global economic system, while Shettima argued that countries benefit from greater international cooperation rather than isolation.
At the summit, the Vice President delivered President Tinubu’s message calling for reforms of global governance and financial institutions, while positioning Nigeria as a gateway to Africa’s expanding market under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Nigeria also used the summit to deepen its engagement with BRICS member and partner countries in agriculture, artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, manufacturing, healthcare, energy and human-capital development.
