Nigeria is seeking to deepen its strategic relationship with São Tomé and Príncipe around maritime security, the Joint Development Zone (JDZ), as well as trade investment.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through the country representative, Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, moved to reinforce bilateral cooperation through high-level representation at the inauguration of President Carlos Manuel Vila Nova for a second five-year term.
The Minister represented President Tinubu at the presidential inauguration held at the Parliament Building in São Tomé and Príncipe, where he conveyed Nigeria’s congratulations to Vila Nova on his re-election and reaffirmed Abuja’s interest in strengthening relations between both countries.
The President said Nigeria remained committed to peace, security and development in the Gulf of Guinea and was ready to re-establish and strengthen closer ties with São Tomé and Príncipe for mutual benefit.
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He also commended the people of São Tomé and Príncipe for conducting what he described as a peaceful, credible and transparent election, noting that the outcome reflected confidence in Vila Nova’s leadership and strengthened democratic institutions in the country.
President Tinubu said Nigeria valued the longstanding friendship between the two countries and looked forward to deeper cooperation in maritime security, the Nigeria-São Tomé and Príncipe JDZ, trade and investment, alongside other areas of mutual interest.
The emphasis on maritime security and the JDZ carries particular strategic relevance for both countries, whose interests are closely connected to the security and economic activity of the Gulf of Guinea.
The renewed diplomatic push therefore places security cooperation alongside economic engagement rather than treating bilateral relations solely as a political partnership.
The inauguration brought together African and European leaders and other senior dignitaries, including the President of the Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou Nguesso; the President of Gabon, Brice Oligui Nguema; Mozambique’s Prime Minister, Maria Benvinda Levy; Angola’s Foreign Minister and representative of the Angolan Head of State, Téte António; and Morocco’s Prime Minister, Aziz Akhannouch.
