Nigeria and Angola have signed key agreements to strengthen cooperation in combating illicit drugs, promoting cultural exchange, and deepening economic ties.
A statement by Dr. Magnus Eze, Special Assistant on Communication and New Media to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, disclosed that the agreements were sealed at the 5th Session of the Nigeria-Angola Bilateral Economic Joint Commission, held in Luanda, Angola, from September 9–12, 2025. The session revived the commission after a 24-year lull.
According to the statement, two landmark agreements were signed—one on cooperation against the production, manufacture, and trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, and another on cultural cooperation and exchange.
In addition, Nigeria facilitated a twinning agreement on socio-economic and cultural development between Bayelsa State and Namibe Province in Angola, as well as another economic cooperation pact between Nasarawa State and Angola’s Bengo Province.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, led the Nigerian delegation and signed on behalf of the Federal Government, while Angola’s Secretary of State for International Cooperation, Ambassador Domingos Lopes, signed for his country. Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, and Namibe Province Governor, Dr. Archer Mangueira, also signed their sister-cities twinning agreement.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu praised the resuscitation of the joint commission, stressing that it provided a solid framework to broaden bilateral relations. She said the agreements, including the Bayelsa-Namibe partnership, signaled a shared commitment to economic, cultural, educational, and scientific cooperation aimed at driving growth, job creation, and poverty reduction.
She noted that the Nigerian delegation tabled 28 draft Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) covering a wide range of sectors. Both countries also discussed future collaborations in areas such as visa waivers, simplified customs procedures, preferential cargo lanes, gas-to-power exploration, LNG trading, port development, agriculture projects, and technical manpower assistance through Nigeria’s Technical Aid Programme.
The Minister further disclosed that discussions included avoidance of double taxation, opening trade settlement corridors between the Naira and Kwanza, and stronger roles for Nigerian banks such as Access Bank and UBA in Angola. Agreements were also reached on creative economy initiatives, including film and music co-productions, cultural festivals, and tourism, with proposals for an international boat cruise between Nigerian and Angolan coasts.
She described the joint commission as fruitful, assuring that Nigeria would demonstrate the necessary political will to implement the agreements in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
