The Federal Government has asked India to extend an existing amnesty arrangement for Nigerians who have overstayed their visas, allowing them to return home voluntarily without facing penalties.
The request was made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, during bilateral talks with her Indian counterpart, Dr S. Jaishankar, on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi.
The minister’s media aide, Dr Magnus Eze, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
According to the statement, the welfare of Nigerians living in India, particularly those whose visas had expired, was a major focus of the discussions.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu sought a further extension of the amnesty to give affected Nigerians additional time to regularise their situation and return to Nigeria voluntarily without penalties.
The two ministers also discussed the possibility of concluding a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons.
The proposed agreement would establish a framework for the humane and orderly transfer of eligible prisoners between Nigeria and India.
Beyond consular matters, the ministers reviewed ways to strengthen economic relations, with discussions focusing on expanding trade and investment opportunities between the two countries.
They also identified education and cultural exchanges as key areas for deepening people-to-people relations and promoting greater understanding between Nigerians and Indians.
The talks were held during the BRICS summit, hosted by India under the theme, “Building Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
The Federal Government said Nigeria’s participation in the BRICS platform provided an opportunity to advance bilateral partnerships, expand economic opportunities and strengthen South-South cooperation.
The latest engagement underscores efforts by both countries to deepen bilateral relations while addressing consular and welfare issues affecting their citizens.
