Nigeria and Angola revive bilateral commission after 24 years, launching economic and cultural partnerships between Bayelsa, Nasarawa, Namibe, and Bengo
Nigeria and Angola revive bilateral commission after a 24-year hiatus, marking a major milestone in diplomatic and economic cooperation between the two oil-rich African nations.
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The renewed collaboration was formalised during the fifth session of the Nigeria-Angola Bilateral Joint Economic Commission, held over three days in Luanda, Angola’s capital.
The meeting resulted in landmark agreements between states and provinces from both countries, strengthening ties in trade, tourism, education, and urban development.
Among the key highlights was the sister-city twinning of Bayelsa State with Namibe Province, and Nasarawa State with Bengo Province, aimed at promoting socio-economic, environmental, and cultural cooperation.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri hailed the agreement as “historic” and said it would unlock new opportunities for growth and shared prosperity between both regions.
He noted the similarities in natural resources between Bayelsa and Namibe and described the partnership as a game-changer for local development.
“Both states are naturally endowed, and there is so much we can do that would be mutually beneficial to us as states and our countries,” Diri remarked.
His counterpart, Dr Archer Mangueira, the Governor of Namibe, welcomed the partnership, adding that the deal sets the stage for impactful collaboration in areas such as agriculture, education, energy, and tourism.
The agreements were facilitated by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and Angolan Secretary of State for International Cooperation, Ambassador Domingos Lopes, who both signed on behalf of their governments.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu stated that the relaunch of the bilateral commission aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to foster inclusive growth and international partnerships.
“This joint commission reaffirms the friendly and cooperative ties between Nigeria and Angola as important partners,” she said.
“We must now work together to realise the full potential of our shared ambitions.”
The long-dormant commission last met in 2001.
Since then, both countries have maintained cordial relations, but lacked a structured platform for policy coordination and collaborative implementation.
With the revival of the joint commission, officials say 28 memoranda of understanding are now under review for implementation.
The commission also aims to increase people-to-people contact, boost trade, encourage investment, and improve shared responses to challenges such as poverty and underdevelopment.
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As both countries mark half a century of formal diplomatic ties, this renewed partnership is expected to set a new trajectory for African-led cooperation, anchored on mutual respect, shared values, and economic resilience.
