Nigeria, Angola Revive Economic Commission, Seal New Bilateral Pacts
NIGERIA and Angola have reactivated their Bilateral Joint Economic Commission (BJEC) after a 24-year lull, signing fresh agreements to boost cooperation in socio-economic, cultural, and political spheres.
The agreements were concluded at the fifth session of the BJEC, a three-day meeting in Luanda, co-chaired by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and Angola’s Secretary of State for International Cooperation, Ambassador Domingos Custodio Vieira Lopes.
Among the highlights was a twinning pact between Bayelsa State and Angola’s Namibe Province, designed to foster collaboration in economic growth, environmental management, agricultural manpower training, energy, education, culture, tourism, and sports. A similar partnership was also signed between Nasarawa State and Bengo Province of Angola.
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, described the Bayelsa–Namibe agreement as “historic”, noting that it coincided with Angola’s 50th independence anniversary and would open new frontiers of development.
“I recall that early this year, I was in Namibe and saw its natural endowments. The same applies to Bayelsa. Both states are rich in resources, and this partnership will yield mutual benefits,” Diri said. He thanked Nigeria’s Federal Government for involving Bayelsa in the arrangement and expressed gratitude to Angola for its warm reception.
Namibe’s governor, Dr. Archer Mangueira, welcomed the pact, describing it as the start of “milestone cooperation” between the two states.
“This agreement provides an opportunity to explore areas of comparative advantage. We share similar geographical features with Bayelsa, and this partnership will deepen our ties,” he said.
Earlier, Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu stressed the significance of reviving the long-dormant joint commission, recalling Nigeria’s support for Angola since its independence in 1975.
“Our meeting over the past three days was not only to review existing relations but also to chart new areas of collaboration. We are committed to fostering sustainable growth, job creation, and poverty reduction through stronger bilateral ties,” she said.
The minister disclosed that 28 memoranda of understanding were presented during negotiations, reflecting what she called “shared responsibilities” between both countries.
“In negotiations, no side gets everything it wants. What we have achieved is a balanced framework for cooperation. On behalf of Nigeria, I assure Angola of our political will to fully implement this document in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” she added.
The revived commission, according to analysts, is expected to reposition Nigeria–Angola relations, opening up new opportunities for trade, investment, and people-to-people engagement across both nations.
