Angola, Nigeria Relaunch Bilateral Joint Commission to Strengthen Strategic Partnership

By Iyojo Ameh

Angola and Nigeria are set to deepen their long-standing ties as the 5th Angola-Nigeria Bilateral Joint Commission convenes on Tuesday, September 9, in Luanda. The high-level meeting aims to review and update more than 20 Cooperation Agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to address major economic and political challenges facing both nations.

The two delegations will be led by Angola’s Secretary of State for International Cooperation, Domingos Vieira Lopes, and Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu.

The talks will cover a wide range of areas including defense and security, cyber and digital diplomacy, trade, justice, culture, aviation and maritime transport, telecommunications, tourism, social communication, and visa exemptions.

Angola’s Ambassador to Nigeria, José Bamóquina Zau, described the commission’s revival as a “turning point” for both nations. He emphasized that discussions would focus on free trade, visa waivers, double taxation agreements, extradition arrangements, and enhanced maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.

“Since 2001, the work of this commission has been interrupted and we are very excited to relaunch this cooperation with a focus on hydrocarbons and petrochemicals, agribusiness, sun tourism, information technology, innovation, and the blue economy. These sectors can generate investments, create youth employment, and boost companies in both countries,” Zau stated.

Economic and Regional Cooperation

On the sidelines of the meeting, two Twinning Agreements will be formalized between Angola’s Bengo and Namibe provinces and Nigeria’s Nasarawa and Bayelsa States, respectively, with the participation of their governors.

Additionally, Angola’s Private Investment and Export Promotion Agency (AIPEX) and the Angola-Nigeria Business Council (ANBC) are expected to strengthen institutional ties to support private sector-driven partnerships and attract new investments.

Despite their vast potential, trade between Angola and Nigeria remains underdeveloped. Outside the oil sector, Angola’s exports to Nigeria between 2020 and 2022 were valued at just US$5.6 million, while imports reached US$16.8 million, leaving a trade deficit of US$11.2 million.

To reverse this trend, Angola hosted the 2nd Angola-Nigeria Business Forum in Lagos in February 2024, during which Nigerian investment intentions were estimated at US$5 billion.

Historical Ties

Nigeria has historically played a vital role in Angola’s political and economic development. Before Angola’s independence in 1975, Nigeria actively supported its liberation struggle, including providing financial contributions to the first Angolan government.

After independence, both countries signed agreements in defense, aviation, oil and gas, trade, and agriculture. In 1977, Angola’s first President, António Agostinho Neto, visited Nigeria and was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Lagos (UNILAG). The then Prime Minister of Angola, Lopo Ferreira do Nascimento, also made several visits to Nigeria to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

Most recently, during the accreditation of Ambassador Zau in October 2023, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to deepening relations and maximizing the potential of both countries.

The Luanda meeting is expected to mark a significant step toward revitalizing Angola-Nigeria relations, with both governments pushing for stronger trade, security cooperation, and people-to-people ties across Africa.