Nigeria and Angola have rekindled their long-dormant diplomatic and economic ties after 24 years, sealing fresh agreements that range from a pact against illicit drug activities to cultural cooperation, and even a proposal for a joint international boat cruise during “Detty December.”
The agreements were signed during the recently concluded 5th Session of the Nigeria-Angola Bilateral Economic Joint Commission, which held in Luanda, Angola, from September 9 to 12, 2025.
According to the Special Assistant on Communication and New Media to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Magnus Eze, the pacts cover cooperation on combating illicit production, manufacture, and trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors, as well as cultural cooperation and exchange.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, explained that the three-day meeting went beyond reviewing bilateral relations to identifying new areas of cooperation in line with the collective desire to strengthen partnerships. She said the goal was to achieve economic growth, job creation, closer people-to-people contact, and poverty reduction.
She added that the agreements were not ceremonial but part of a broader strategy to boost economic growth and create employment opportunities. She highlighted the historic twinning agreement between Bayelsa State and Angola’s Namibe Province, which aims to promote political, cultural, educational, social, and scientific cooperation.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu signed on behalf of Nigeria, while Angola’s Secretary of State for International Cooperation, Ambassador Domingos Lopes, represented his country.
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Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State and his Namibe counterpart, Archer Mangueira, also formalised the twinning agreement between their regions. In addition, Nasarawa State entered into a sub-national agreement with Angola’s Bengo Province, focusing on socio-economic cooperation.
The minister disclosed that discussions also covered visa waivers, simplified customs procedures, and the opening of trade and investment corridors. Angola, she said, had also shown readiness to welcome Nigerian financial institutions.
She noted that both countries signed an agreement on creative economy, arts and culture to promote exchanges in film, music co-production, festivals, and touring programmes.
In a move to promote tourism, Nigeria proposed a vibrant marine tourism initiative, including an international boat cruise linking the Nigerian and Angolan coasts, especially during the festive “Detty December” season.
On the broader significance, Odumegwu-Ojukwu said: “We brought to the table 28 Memoranda of Understanding, which various sub-committees carefully deliberated and will continue to further deliberate upon. The long hours spent by our officials underscore the seriousness and importance that the two delegations attached to the subjects under consideration.”
She assured Angola of Nigeria’s commitment to implementing the agreements, while noting that not all demands could be met in the negotiations. Both sides, however, agreed that additional refined Memoranda of Understanding would be signed at a later date.
