President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has proposed a visa waiver for holders of diplomatic and official passports from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), marking a major step toward closer Africa-Caribbean cooperation.
The OECS comprises Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The new move means officials from these nations may soon travel to Nigeria without visas, subject to reciprocal arrangements.
The President made this announcement during his address to a joint session of the Senate and House of Assembly of Saint Lucia at the William Jefferson Clinton Ballroom, Sandals Grande Resort, during his state visit.
Tinubu emphasized that Nigeria is keen to deepen partnerships across trade, investment, education, culture, health, and climate resilience, describing the proposed visa waiver as a “symbolic bridge” for stronger ties.
9am News report that the President also recommended establishing a formal Joint Commission or Political Consultation Agreement between Nigeria and the OECS to create a structured platform for collaboration across key sectors.
“To further deepen our partnership, I recommend that our two parties initiate negotiations towards a formal agreement on a Joint Commission. Such a framework will help us advance cooperation in more areas that benefit both our peoples,” Tinubu said.
President Tinubu underlined Nigeria’s outward-looking strategy since he assumed office in May 2023. He described the visit as part of a broader Renewed Hope Agenda to build new partnerships beyond Africa.
He noted that Nigeria’s vast resources and status as Africa’s largest market offer tremendous potential for trade and joint ventures with the Eastern Caribbean region.
“Together, we can attract investments, create jobs and foster joint ventures that benefit both our peoples,” Tinubu said.
He also revealed plans to offer full tuition scholarships to students from OECS countries and extend Nigeria’s Technical Aide Corps to support human capacity building in the region.
Highlighting shared challenges, Tinubu called for greater cooperation on education, science, and climate resilience. He advocated for exchange programs between Nigerian and OECS maritime universities, joint research on health, hurricane response, and sustainable agriculture.
He stressed the importance of people-to-people exchanges, including cultural and heritage programs, to strengthen ties at the grassroots level.
“It is essential that we invest in cultural and human exchanges that build mutual understanding from the ground up,” the President stated.
The Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, Philip J. Pierre, warmly received Tinubu and the Nigerian delegation. He described the visit as timely and vital for the future of Africa-Caribbean engagement, noting the cultural and historical bonds shared by the two regions.
“There is an air of enthusiasm and optimism about the future of relations between our countries,” Pierre said.
He also pointed out opportunities for collaboration in arts, entertainment, and higher education citing the Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival as a bridge for cultural diplomacy.
A New Era for Africa–Caribbean Cooperation
During his courtesy visit to the Prime Minister’s residence in Castries, Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to forging strong global partnerships and supporting South-South cooperation amid global uncertainties.
“This is a bridge between Africa and the Caribbean a pathway to deepen economic ties and foster mutual understanding,” Tinubu said.
The two leaders pledged to formalize diplomatic ties between Nigeria and Saint Lucia, laying the groundwork for deeper collaboration in trade, tourism, education, culture, and improved consular services for citizens.
As both sides look to the future, the focus remains on translating historic ties into meaningful action that delivers prosperity for their peoples.
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