Nigeria and India have a long history of political and economic relations which date back to colonial era, in which the economic relations between the two countries received a boost during the tenure of H.E. Viswanathan.

The revelation was made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs II, Ambassador Bagudu Hirse while making some remarks on the occasion of a farewell luncheon organized for the out-going Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, H.E. Viswanathan, on May 13, 2008 at the Sheraton and Towers Hotel, Abuja.

Ambassador Hirse recalled that the Indian government gave Nigeria a grant of US$5 million for the resuscitation of the Nigerian Machine Tools (NMT) company, Oshogbo, pointing out that the kind gesture is already yielding fruit as other industrial concerns now request for some spare parts needed by their factories from Oshogbo.

The Minister further recalled that it was during H.E. Viswanathan that Nigeria hosted the Indian Prime Minister, His Excellency, Dr. Manmohan Singh, adding that the visit had brought Nigeria and India into more cooperation and collaboration in those spheres of economic, security and cultural interactions.

He wished the out-going Envoy good health and happy return to his home country, stressing that nothing can be substituted for home.

Speaking in the same vein, the Indian High Commissioner H.E. Viswanathan expressed his gratitude to the Federal Government of Nigeria for a rewarding, cordial as well as peaceful stay in the country, recalling that May 13, marked the 13th anniversary when he presented his letter of Credence to the then President of Nigeria.

H.E. Viswanathan said that he was leaving Nigeria satisfied, as the bilateral cooperation’s between the two countries have increased greatly.

He recalled that he received the Nigeria Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan twice, in New Delhi (India) on official visits there, observing that many young Nigerians had gone to India for studies, and back to serve the country in leadership capacities.

Mr. Viswanathan thanked the Minister for the gift given to him.