Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, and Saint Lucia’s Minister for External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation, and Diaspora Affairs, Alva Romanus Baptiste, held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ongoing state visit.
Also in attendance were Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, and the Director General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC), Rt. Hon. Dr. Yusuf Buba Yakub.
According to a statement by Tuggar’s media aide, Alkasim Abdulkadir, the minister emphasised the deep-rooted historical and cultural ties between Nigeria and Saint Lucia, grounded in shared African ancestry, the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade, and a common British colonial history.
He described these bonds as a strong basis for revitalised diplomatic and cultural cooperation.
The statement further reads: “Ambassador Tuggar welcomed the anticipated formalisation of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Saint Lucia, highlighting that the Nigerian High Commission in Port of Spain currently provides interim diplomatic and consular coverage for Saint Lucia. He emphasised that the establishment of official diplomatic ties would serve as a vital platform for enhancing bilateral and multilateral collaboration between Nigeria and Caribbean nations, particularly within the OECS and CARICOM frameworks.
“In furtherance of practical cooperation, Ambassador Tuggar proposed the development of a structured partnership between Nigeria’s Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) and Saint Lucia’s Political & Economic Cooperation Development Division. This would involve: the deployment of Nigerian professionals in sectors such as health, education, agriculture, and technical services; the exchange of best practices in governance, youth empowerment, and institutional capacity-building; and
The design of joint capacity development initiatives that can serve as models for broader Africa–Caribbean collaboration.
“He also encouraged both countries to explore opportunities in education diplomacy, including scholarships, academic exchanges, and collaborative research programmes that foster stronger people-to-people linkages.
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The Minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s interest in expanding trade and investment relations with Saint Lucia, focusing on key growth areas such as agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, renewable energy, and ICT.
“Recognising the shared vulnerability to environmental threats, Ambassador Tuggar emphasised the importance of cooperation on climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and access to climate finance, noting Nigeria’s commitment to supporting Saint Lucia’s efforts as a Small Island Developing State (SIDS).
“He further reiterated Nigeria’s readiness to champion the concerns of Saint Lucia and other SIDS on global platforms, including the United Nations, the Commonwealth, and the African Union–CARICOM initiatives, as part of its commitment to inclusive international engagement.
“Concluding the meeting, Ambassador Tuggar expressed confidence that the growing partnership between Nigeria and Saint Lucia would lead to mutual prosperity and greater regional solidarity, and thanked Minister Baptiste for his commitment to strengthening ties between the two nations.”