The President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Nigeria Chapter, Chief Sanjay Jain, has called for stronger Nigeria-India security cooperation to create a safer and more predictable environment for businesses, investors and citizens of both countries.
Jain, a Nigeria-based Indian businessman, community leader and socialite said Nigeria and India had maintained defence and security relations for decades, with cooperation spanning military training, counter-terrorism, maritime security, anti-piracy and defence technology, noting that the bilateral relationship was elevated to a strategic partnership in 2007. “Recent engagements between the two countries showed that security cooperation is assuming greater importance,” he added
He disclosed that Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had in May 2026 highlighted the need for stronger cooperation in counter-terrorism, technology and defence capacity-building, adding that there was already a substantial Indian business presence in Nigeria, with Indian diplomatic information estimating that more than 200 Indian-owned or Indian-operated companies were active in the country, with investments estimated at about $27 billion across sectors including pharmaceuticals, power, manufacturing, consumer goods, construction and aviation.
Jain noted that Nigeria and India could strengthen security cooperation by moving from broad diplomatic commitments to practical, intelligence-led and business-focused arrangements. He advocated for a deeper maritime-security cooperation between the Nigerian Navy, Indian Navy and relevant maritime agencies to tackle piracy, armed robbery at sea, illegal fishing and other threats to commercial shipping, particularly in the Gulf of Guinea and major Nigerian ports.
“The two countries should develop joint risk-assessment mechanisms covering ports, roads, warehouses, energy infrastructure and other facilities critical to Nigeria-India trade. There is a need for enhanced cooperation against cyber fraud, ransomware, identity theft, financial scams and attacks on corporate networks. As bilateral trade becomes increasingly digital, Nigeria and India should enhance cooperation against cybercrime,” he said.
He urged both countries to expand counter-terrorism cooperation through intelligence exchange and capacity-building, including measures to prevent terrorist financing and protect critical infrastructure. He also called for stronger protection for investors and expatriate workers, dedicated communication channels between security agencies and major Nigerian and Indian businesses to ensure that threats could be reported quickly and appropriate responses provided.
He further advocated improved customs and border-security cooperation through information sharing among customs and law-enforcement agencies to combat smuggling, counterfeit goods, illicit financial flows and other activities capable of undermining legitimate bilateral trade.
He urged for public-private security partnerships, saying Nigerian and Indian chambers of commerce and major businesses should maintain structured dialogue with security authorities. “Businesses often see emerging security risks before they become major incidents,” he said.
Jain advocated increased defence-industry and technology cooperation, particularly in surveillance, maritime-domain awareness, secured communications, drones and cybersecurity, saying such collaboration could strengthen Nigeria’s ability to protect its territory and critical commercial infrastructure.
He proposed a regular bilateral security forum involving foreign affairs, defence, interior and security agencies, customs, maritime authorities and the private sector to review emerging threats and coordinate responses. “Ultimately, security should be treated as an economic enabler,” he said.
He maintained that a safer maritime environment, more secured supply chains, stronger cybersecurity and predictable protection for investors would not only safeguard Nigerian and Indian citizens and companies but also boost investor confidence, attract new investment and support the expansion of Nigeria-India trade. “The two countries had already identified pharmaceuticals, energy, agriculture, the digital economy, power, renewable energy, transport and infrastructure as areas with significant potential for increased economic cooperation,” he summed up.
