Raising the game in Lagos

PARVATHI VASUDEVAN of the Centre for International, Strategic and Development Studies in India traces the evolution of Indo-Nigerian ties over the past 50 years from a foundation of historical & political links to one based on economic links. While India's major oil players evinced a keen interest in Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, which contributes 20% of India's oil imports, their moves had not yielded the expected benefits. In a report for the Chatham House, "The Changing Nature of Nigeria–India Relations", she calls for a rehaul of New Delhi's Africa policy with Nigeria as a template, with the key focus areas as follows:

• Enhanced commercial transparency and adherence to international legal best practices
• Increasing frequency of government-government contacts and expansion of India's diplomatic presence
• Expansion of India's Trade and Economic relations committee's mandate beyond hydrocarbons into all sectors
• Enhanced Indian media presence on the ground in Africa
• Expansion of the educational scholarships program to support Nigerian students

She concludes that New Delhi had to raise its game to compete both effectively and transparently in Africa's economy.