India, Nigeria expected to sign defence pact

Both countries are expected to sign a defence pact and three other accords to upgrade bilateral ties during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit in Abuja.

India and Nigeria are expected to sign a defence pact and three other accords to upgrade bilateral ties during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit in Abuja.

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The two sides will be firming up a protocol for foreign office consultations, an MoU between Indian Council for World Affairs and the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and another MoU between the Foreign Service Institute and its Nigerian counterpart.

An extradition treaty, trade agreement and Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement are expected to be finalised by the two countries in the next six months.

During this period, they will be working out a double taxation avoidance agreement, a bilateral inter-governmental science and technology agreement and an air-services agreement.

A mutual legal assistance treaty, an agreement on co-operation against trafficking of drugs and a three-year cultural exchange programme from 2008 will also be signed during this period.