President Bola Tinubu and Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre have committed to establishing formal diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Saint Lucia.
Both leaders discussed ongoing efforts toward this goal during President Tinubu’s courtesy visit to the Prime Minister at his official residence in Castries on the second day of the Nigerian leader’s State Visit to the Caribbean nation.
President Tinubu appreciated the hospitality extended to him and his delegation since their arrival, describing Saint Lucians as “valued friends and brothers.”
He acknowledged the enduring connections shaped by a shared past and the collective resilience of both regions, highlighting the historical and cultural ties between African and Caribbean peoples.
President Tinubu noted that ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral engagement would lay the foundation for enhanced cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, education, and cultural exchange while improving consular services for citizens of both nations.
President Tinubu reiterated Nigeria’s readiness to collaborate with Saint Lucia on global issues of mutual concern, including climate change, disaster response, and development financing. He affirmed Nigeria’s support for the priorities and perspectives of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in international fora.
Prime Minister Pierre acknowledged the productive discussions between the two countries’ Ministers of Foreign Affairs and expressed optimism about the future of bilateral ties.
Reflecting on Saint Lucia’s longstanding connection to Nigeria, Prime Minister Pierre recalled:
He outlined key areas for potential collaboration, including agriculture, tourism, culture, education, health, and physical infrastructure.
The Prime Minister praised Nigeria’s legacy in education and highlighted the importance of deepening educational cooperation to achieve his goal of one university graduate per household at a minimum.
Prime Minister Pierre reaffirmed Saint Lucia’s intention to strengthen its relationship with the African continent, with Nigeria playing a pivotal role.
The Prime Minister recalled that in one of his first addresses as Prime Minister in August 2021, he pledged to deepen Saint Lucia’s ties with Africa and described President Tinubu’s visit as a timely opportunity to explore collaboration.
President Tinubu also visited the Governor-General of Saint Lucia, Cyril Charles, at the Government House, Morne Fortune.
They discussed their Commonwealth membership as a platform for collaboration on climate change, technical assistance, and addressing socioeconomic challenges.
President Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to advocating for the interests of smaller states and expressed Nigeria’s readiness to explore opportunities to boost trade and economic cooperation, particularly in agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing.
