President Bola Tinubu has proposed visa waivers for diplomatic and official passport holders from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), marking the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Saint Lucia.
The announcement was made on Monday during a special joint session of the Senate and House of Assembly of Saint Lucia, held at the William Jefferson Clinton Ballroom, Sandals Grande, Gros Islet.
President Tinubu underscored the significance of fostering people-to-people connections and urged OECS nations to reciprocate Nigeria’s visa waiver initiative.
“I respectfully urge a reciprocal gesture to enable smoother movement of officials and foster closer institutional cooperation. My presence here today symbolises Nigeria’s renewed commitment to re-engage with these enduring ties, recognising their strategic and emotional significance,” Tinubu said.
He characterized the establishment of diplomatic relations as a “symbolic bridge” that would serve as a gateway to strengthening ties between the two regions.
The address marked a pivotal moment in President Tinubu’s ongoing two-nation tour of the Caribbean and South America, which commenced with his arrival in Vieux Fort, Saint Lucia, on Saturday.
In his speech, President Tinubu also suggested the formation of a joint commission or a political consultation agreement to facilitate structured collaboration between Nigeria and the OECS.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to strengthen ties with the Eastern Caribbean region across key sectors such as trade, education, health, and climate resilience.
“In this spirit, I wish to express Nigeria’s readiness to deepen cooperation with the OECS in mutual interest, including trade, investment, health, culture, education, and climate resilience,” he said.
Strategic Partnerships
President Tinubu announced plans to provide full scholarships to students from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), aiming to foster cultural understanding and strengthen ties between Nigeria and the Caribbean bloc.
He further advocated for educational exchange programs between Nigerian and OECS maritime universities and proposed extending Nigeria’s Technical Aid Corps (TAC) program to OECS nations.
“Such partnerships will build technical capacity and foster mutual understanding and long-term academic collaboration,” he said.
On economic diplomacy, Tinubu invited OECS nations to leverage Nigeria’s position as Africa’s largest market, proposing joint ventures in agriculture, manufacturing, and services.
“Together, we can leverage our respective strengths to attract investment, create jobs, and foster joint ventures that benefit both our peoples,” he added.
Shared Heritage
Recognising the existential climate threats faced by small island states, he called for joint research on adaptation strategies, disaster preparedness, sustainable agriculture, and climate-induced migration.
“By sharing research findings on climate impacts, adaptation strategies, and disaster risk management. We can deepen our understanding and enhance our collective resilience,” Tinubu noted.
He also reaffirmed Nigeria’s Afrocentric foreign policy, rooted in Pan-African ideals and shared historical experiences with the Caribbean.
“Nigeria, as the most populous nation on the African continent and the foremost Black nation globally, has long stood at the vanguard of advocacy for the dignity and advancement of Black people worldwide,” he said.
The audience included leaders and officials from Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, Montserrat, Saint Martin, and Saint Vincent, as well as members of the diplomatic corps and the Nigerian community in Saint Lucia.
Quoting Marcus Garvey and an African proverb, President Tinubu called for unity, “Get organised and you will compel the world to respect you. If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”