Nigeria and Angola are poised to strengthen their relationship by signing at least 15 new Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) during the fifth session of the Nigeria-Angola Bilateral Economic Joint Commission in Luanda.
According to Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, these agreements will significantly advance bilateral relations.
She highlighted that the MoUs would serve their mutual interests, reinforce domestic institutions, stimulate economic and social progress, and foster capacity-building.
The minister outlined a wide range of cooperation areas covered by the agreements.
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These include establishing a Nigeria–Angola Business Council and strengthening economic and technical cooperation.
Both countries will also partner to combat drug trafficking and illicit production, as well as create a migration partnership.
The agreements further provide for the waiver of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and official passports, collaboration on the transfer of sentenced persons and correctional administration, and the provision of technical manpower assistance.
Other areas of focus include improving cooperation in higher education, fighting corruption, promoting youth development, and enhancing policing and security cooperation.
Cultural exchanges will also be facilitated, alongside mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.
In addition, Nigeria and Angola agreed to develop defence and intelligence partnerships, cooperate on public communication and media, advance cooperation in mining and mineral processing, improve land transportation, and collaborate on health and medical sciences.
Ojukwu acknowledged that reviving the joint commission was a long-term effort, as no sessions had been held since the fourth one in Abuja in October 2001.
She expressed her satisfaction that the event was finally taking place after more than two decades, noting that it was a result of sustained efforts that began in February of the current year.
The minister emphasised that this renewed partnership honours the historical fraternal relations between the two countries, which date back to 1975 when Nigeria established its diplomatic mission in Luanda and played a crucial role in Angola’s liberation from Portugal.
The minister also mentioned that the commission’s fifth session would provide a platform to revitalise other existing agreements.
She expressed her delight that both nations’ collective efforts resulted in drafting 19 MoUs and two twinning agreements between Bayelsa and Nasarawa states in Nigeria and the provinces of Namibe and Bengo in Angola.
In addition to the MoUs, the minister explained that her delegation would present several other key issues for consideration.
These include partnerships in human and natural resource development, particularly in the area of technical manpower assistance.
The team will also hold discussions on the operation of flights by Nigerian carriers to Angola, as well as explore opportunities in the oil, gas, and mineral sectors.
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Other agenda items involve finalising agreements on double taxation to curb tax evasion and deliberating on an MoU between the Central Bank of Nigeria and the National Bank of Angola.
Once signed, this agreement would enable certain Nigerian banks to commence operations in Angola.
