Nigeria will honour Prime Minister Modi with the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, GCON. He will be the second foreign dignitary to receive this honour. Queen Elizabeth is the only foreign dignitary to be awarded with GCON in 1969. This will be the 17th such international award being conferred to Prime Minister Modi by a country. Prime Minister Modi reached Abuja last night on a two-day visit to Nigeria.

PM was given a rousing welcome upon arrival. This is the first visit by a Prime Minister of India to Nigeria in 17 years. Prime Minister was presented with the ‘Key to the City’ of Abuja. The key symbolises the trust and honour bestowed on the Prime Minister by the people of Nigeria. Mr Modi was thanked by the Marathi community in Nigeria for according classical language status to Marathi. A traditional Laavni dance was performed in front of the Prime Minister.