High Commissioner of India, Amb. Abhishek Singh,on Thursday estimated that Indian firms have cumulatively invested around $27 billion in Nigeria.
These companies, he said, are active in sectors including pharmaceuticals, power, transmission, manufacturing, hospitality, retailing of consumer goods, construction and air services.
Singh made this known while opening the 2026 India Trade Expo, organised by the High Commission of India in partnership with the Indian Professionals Forum.
Participating companies in the 2026 edition include Tata International Ltd., Fullmark Group, Sun Group and SacvinNigeria Ltd., among others.
Singh said the mission was encouraged by the success of the 2025 expo and impressed with the diversity Indian businesses bring to Nigeria.
“Nigeria currently has the presence of over 200 companies owned and operated by Indians or Persons-of-Indian Origin, with Lagos being the epicentre.
“There are vast opportunities for Indian enterprises in Lagos and we are committed to forging closer links between us,” he said.
The envoy further urged Indian companies willing to explore Nigeria to respect laid down laws and guidelines, emphasising that they would enjoy a favourable environment and the nation’s support.
“The India-Nigeria cooperation is very steady and the high commission is always committed to supporting the growth of trade between both countries,” Singh said.
Earlier, Mr Kannan Chockalingam, Consul General of India in Lagos, urged a shift from transactional trade to transformational collaboration in India-Nigeria partnership.
He said both countries could work hand-in-hand to strengthen manufacturing and value addition in Nigeria, promote joint ventures and local capacity building.
The envoy also said India could partner with Nigeria to encourage technology adaptation and skill transfer, support sustainable development and green growth, and empower youth and entrepreneurs.
According to him, India’s experience in digital governance, affordable healthcare, small-scale industry development, and renewable energy can complement Nigeria’s vast resources, market potential, and entrepreneurial spirit.
“This trade show is, therefore, an opportunity to build partnerships, sign agreements, initiate dialogue, and lay foundations for long-term collaboration.
“I encourage Nigerian businesses to explore India as a reliable partner for quality products, technology solutions, and investment collaboration.
“I equally encourage Indian companies to see Nigeria not just as a market, but as a strategic gateway to West Africa and the African continent,” he said.
Also speaking, Mrs Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, the Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade & Investment, hailed the state as the primary gateway for investment into Nigeria and West African at large.
Ambrose-Medebem noted that Nigeria is currently implementing key reforms designed to strengthen investor confidence and improve the ease of doing business.
“In recent years, significant progress has been made in simplifying business registration processes through digital platforms introduced by the Corporate Affairs Commission.
“Trade documentation and customs processes are undergoing improvements aimed at reducing delays and improving transparency across supply chains,” she said.
She said the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission continues to enhance investment facilitation, while fiscal reforms are helping to create a more predictable environment for investors.
These reforms, she said, are part of a broader effort to strengthen regulatory efficiency, protect investors, and ensure that businesses can operate within a stable and transparent economic system.
Ambrose-Medebem stressed that the Nigerian market is large and with a dynamic economy, noting that the government is committed to creating the conditions that allow businesses to succeed.
“The future of global growth will be shaped by partnerships that combine innovation, investment, and shared prosperity. Nigeria and India have the capacity to build such partnershipsnan”
