President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the 25th anniversary of his first assumption of executive office, describing the milestone as a historic achievement and a testament to the confidence of the Indian people in his leadership.
In a message issued on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, Tinubu said Modi began his public leadership journey in 2001 as Chief Minister of Gujarat before becoming Prime Minister of India in 2014. He noted that Modi’s 25 years of continuous service represented a rare achievement in any democracy, particularly in the world’s most populous country.
The Nigerian President praised Modi’s leadership in development, infrastructure, digital public services, financial inclusion and innovation. According to Tinubu, Modi’s transformation of Gujarat and his subsequent leadership of India have contributed to the country’s emergence as one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing economies, while inspiring other countries across the Global South.
Tinubu also recalled Modi’s historic State Visit to Abuja in November 2024, during which Nigeria conferred on him the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, one of the country’s highest national honours. He said the visit strengthened bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and India in areas including trade and investment, energy, defence and security, health, education and technology.
Describing Nigeria and India as fellow democracies and leading voices of the Global South, Tinubu expressed confidence that the friendship between both countries would continue to deepen under Modi’s leadership. He wished the Indian Prime Minister good health, strength and continued success in serving the people of India.
