Dynamics of India Development Aid to Nigeria in the Post Cold War Era

Following the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in 1991, and India pro- market economic reforms of 1991, have affected its relationship with outside world including Nigeria. This paper examines the development aid relations between Nigeria and India after the return of Nigeria to democratic rule from 1999-2007, especially the trade and investment activities of India in Nigeria particularly in area of agriculture, manufacturing, and extractive sector of Nigeria economy. The paper is anchored on dependency and underdevelopment theory to assess actual beneficiary of the development aid relations, and to demonstrates the asymmetric nature of the relationship between Nigeria and India. It has been revealed from the study that after the cold war development aid relations between Nigeria and India has been shifted from idealistic ideology to realistic pro- market economic ideology. It is also noted that, the asymmetric nature of the relationship has hampered the development of Nigeria. This was as a result of unequal trade and investment relations, has India have enormous advantage over Nigeria because of its technological and economic advancement. Therefore, the paper argued that for Nigeria to benefit from the India’s development aid relations, the relationship has to be redesigned to allow for transparency and equal opportunity