Nigeria, Saint Lucia set to establish formal diplomatic relations
By Kunle Sanni –
President Bola Tinubu and Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre of Saint Lucia have pledged to formalize diplomatic relations between their two nations.
According to a statement by Tinubu’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, the commitment was made during the President’s courtesy visit to Prime Minister Pierre at his official residence in Castries, as part of his historic state visit to the Caribbean country.
Describing Saint Lucians as “valued friends and brothers,” Tinubu praised the warm hospitality shown to him and his delegation. He emphasized the strong historical and cultural connections between African and Caribbean peoples.
“Our two nations are bound by history, culture, and common aspirations. We are determined to nurture and expand this relationship,” Tinubu said, highlighting plans for cooperation in trade, tourism, education, investment, and cultural exchange.
Tinubu described the effort to forge closer ties as “a bridge between Africa and the Caribbean” and stressed the importance of addressing shared global challenges like climate change and disaster response. He also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to advocating for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in international fora.
Prime Minister Pierre expressed optimism about the future of Nigeria–Saint Lucia relations and praised the work between their foreign ministries. He recalled the contribution of Sir Darnley Alexander, a Saint Lucian who served as Nigeria’s Chief Justice from 1975 to 1979, as a symbol of longstanding ties.
“There is an air of enthusiasm and optimism about the future of relations between our countries,” Pierre said, highlighting potential collaborations in agriculture, health, infrastructure, and cultural exchange.
He also spoke passionately about the cultural similarities between both nations and pointed to the global success of the Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival as an example of what Saint Lucia could share with Nigeria as it expands its global influence in film and music.
