Nigerian Newsday

India has agreed to invest six billion Dollars in power plants and other projects in Nigeria, the country’s Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Anil Trigunayat has said.

Trigunayat said that an agreement to that effect was reached after an India delegation met with President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Already, he said that Obasanjo has constituted a committee headed by the minister of power and steel Liyel Imoke, to workout modalities for the projects.

He described Nigeria as one of India’s strategic partners adding that as the most populous countries in Africa and Asia respectively, both countries have a lot to learn and gain from each other.

Trigunayat expressed his country’s desire to collaborate with Nigeria for the benefit of both countries, saying India is also interested in engaging in joint venture projects with Nigeria in the oil and gas sector.

"We are also interested in investing in the development of infrastructure but any such project would have to be identified first by the Nigerian government" he said.

The Deputy High Commissioner also said that some Indian Companies have indicated interest to invest in the existing power plants in Nigeria as well as build new ones that would use coal.

On its part, he said Nigeria has indicated interest in "simputer" which was developed in India for the rural areas to help bridge the digital divide.