India, Nigeria to have direct flights soon

India and Nigeria will establish direct flights under a proposed bilateral air agreement which will lead to greater business transactions between the two countries, a top Nigerian minister has said.

Foreign Minister Henry Odein Ajumogobia was addressing a group of nine Indian journalists in Abuja on familiarisation visit to the country, who were accompanied by the high commissioner to the country, Mahesh Sachdev.

Direct flights would ease business, pleasure, medical and sundry travels between the two countries where travelers at present need to make a stop at United Arab Emirates or

Ethiopia to get a connecting plane, he said.

"This and the agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Investment Promotion are being drafted and may be signed during the India-Nigeria Forum which would hold early 2012", Ajumogobia said, adding the agreements would ensure investments and ease of business transaction between both countries.

Sachdev explained to the minister that the ministry of external affairs decided to organise the familiarisation tour of the African continent for the journalists ahead of Indo-African summit to be held in Addis Ababa later this month to ensure that their work reflects the true situation of the continent.

Bilateral relations between the two countries have greatly improved even as the oil rich country makes strong efforts to establish strong democracy patterned like the United States though colonised by Britain just like India.

Nigeria, which just held a successful general election is Africa's biggest democracy with a population of 150 million people.

The incumbent, President Goodluck Jonathan won a keenly contested poll against his major opponent, former military ruler, General Muhammadu Buhari and will be sworn in on May 29.