To strengthen bilateral relations and look into new cooperation opportunities, Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, and Saint Lucia’s Minister for External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation, and Diaspora Affairs, Alva Romanus Baptiste, met.
The meeting, which took place while President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Saint Lucia, aimed to boost the two nations’ diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties.
Alkasim Abdulkadir, the minister’s special assistant for media and communications strategy, said in a statement that he had received greetings from the government and the people of Nigeria and that he was grateful for the hospitality shown to President Tinubu’s delegation.
He noted that Nigeria and Saint Lucia have historical and cultural ties that are rooted in their shared colonial past, transatlantic slave trade, and African ancestry.
Tuggar applauded the anticipated formalization of bilateral relations.
He emphasized the value of establishing a formal diplomatic presence to enhance engagement, particularly within the OECS and CARICOM frameworks, noting that the Nigerian High Commission in Port of Spain currently provides interim diplomatic and consular coverage for Saint Lucia.
Read more about Tinubu’s trip to St. Lucia for diplomatic purposes, not for vacation.
Tuggar suggested a structured partnership between Saint Lucia’s Political and Economic Cooperation Development Division (POECD) and Nigeria’s Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) as a way to strengthen cooperation.
In addition to joint capacity-building and youth empowerment initiatives, the plan also includes the hiring of Nigerian professionals in fields like health, education, agriculture, and technical services.
He also urged both nations to explore collaborative research programs, academic exchanges, and educational diplomacy.
In terms of trade, Tuggar reaffirmed Nigeria’s desire to expand its economic ties with Saint Lucia, particularly in those in agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, renewable energy, and ICT.
He emphasized the need for cooperation on climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and access to climate finance and stressed that both countries are vulnerable to environmental challenges.
Tuggar reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to supporting Saint Lucia’s status as a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) and supporting its interests on international platforms like the UN, Commonwealth, and AU-CARICOM initiatives.
Hannatu Musawa, the director-general of NTAC, Rt. Hon. Dr. Yusuf Buba Yakub
The Presidency, however, refuted claims that President Tinubu’s trip to Saint Lucia was a vacation on Sunday.
Bayo Onanuga, the president’s spokesman, clarified that the visit was a strategic engagement and described the allegations as “misguided.”
The visit of the Nigerian leader opens the door for the rekindling of our ancestral bonds, invoking a new era of diplomatic, cultural, and economic possibilities, according to Onanuga, the government of Saint Lucia.
He added that Saint Lucia is connected to Nigeria historically since the middle of the 19th century when immigrants from the present day country have arrived on the island, bringing along cultural and religious traditions that still exist.
On Saturday, President Tinubu received Cyril Errol Melchiades Charles, Saint Lucia’s governor general, for an official welcome.
Source: Channels TV
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