Indian strategy for development of ties with Nigeria was historically and ideologically aligned to principles of Non-Aligned Movement and the Spirit of Bandung and its global role was identified with championing the cause of anti-colonialism and anti-racism. Nigeria was considered a key ally in international for a because of the evolved relationship and also because of the large Indian Diaspora living in the Continent. However, the Cold War Polemics and the border dispute with China saw Africa’s mixed reaction to the conflict and this forced New Delhi to realize that it did not have a strong ally it had hoped for…and therefore it actively worked towards countering Chinese penetration in Africa. Even during this turbulent phase Nigeria stood by India and actively endorsed the cause and concerns of India.

This situation led to increased material support to the liberation struggle in Southern Africa and also increased economic co-operation with the Indian communities playing a pivotal role in this expansion. Although, India’s engagement with Nigeria became marginal during 1980’s it saw a revival after India took towards the path of liberalization in the 1990’s. Some analysts argue that this was a partial response to China’s burgeoning relations with newly independent African states and the difficulties experienced in accessing markets across the continent and the need to develop leverage in India’s renewed quest for world dominance. Yet the cause for this resurgence can be traced to changing world dynamics, economic upheavals and a rapidly growing economy.

Propelled by Economic liberalization in the 1990s, there was a paradigm shift in foreign policy thinking by India which emphasized that ‘in the future new relationships based on concrete economic, technological and educational cooperation will assume enhanced significance’. In Nigeria this was about reinventing and rejuvenating the old relationship and led to a confluence of interests around justice in the global order aimed at fighting against underdevelopment and poverty and finding export markets.