Nigeria, Angola broker twinning pact

By Tapre Timine, Yenagoa

Nigeria and Angola have formalized a landmark partnership, forging a "twinning arrangement" between Nigeria's Bayelsa State and Angola’s Namibe Province.

Recall that, a similar cooperation deal was also struck between Nasarawa State and Angola’s Bengo Province.

The agreements were signed last week during the fifth session of the Nigeria–Angola Bilateral Joint Economic Commission, which was reconvened after a 24-year hiatus.

Nigeria's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, and Angola’s Secretary of State for International Cooperation, Ambassador Domingos Custodio Vieira Lopes, formalized the pacts on behalf of their respective countries.

Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, and Namibe Province’s representative, Dr. Archer Mangueira, signed the twinning agreement.

Under the new agreement, Bayelsa and Namibe will collaborate on a wide range of sectors, including energy, agriculture, city planning, manpower training, tourism, education, sports, and cultural exchange.

The partnership also aims to boost "people-to-people relations" between their communities.

Governor Diri hailed the deal as a "historic step," noting that it solidifies ties initiated during his earlier visit to Namibe.

He emphasized that both regions share abundant natural resources and coastal identities, which can be harnessed for mutual prosperity. "Both states are naturally endowed and there is so much we can do that would be mutually beneficial to us as states and our countries," he said.

Dr. Mangueira, Governor Diri’s Namibe counterpart, echoed these sentiments, stating that the agreement will open up new opportunities by exploring each region's comparative advantages.

Ambassador Ojukwu highlighted the importance of reviving the joint commission, which last met in 2001. She noted that Nigeria and Angola established diplomatic relations in 1975 and have long been key partners.

Ojukwu revealed that delegates considered 28 draft memoranda covering diverse areas of cooperation, which will be further developed in subsequent meetings.

She assured Angola that Nigeria, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s "Renewed Hope" agenda, has the political will to implement the agreements.

She urged Angola to reciprocate to ensure both nations can fully realize the benefits of the partnership, including sustainable economic growth, job creation, and poverty reduction.