Nigeria and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas are committed to signing a visa waiver agreement for diplomatic and official passports holders of both countries.

The Prime Minister of the Bahamas, Philip Davis made the commitment when the High Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, Ambassador Benaoyagha Okoyen, paid him a courtesy visit.

A statement from the Nigerian Embassy in Havana on Wednesday indicated that Mr Okoyen paid Mr Davis a courtesy visit in the presence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Bahamas, Mr Fred Mitchel, at Nassau on Monday.

Mr Okoyen is Nigeria’s Ambassador to Cuba with concurrent accreditation to The Bahamas, Republic of Nicaragua and Honduras.

According to the statement, the purpose of the proposed agreement between Nigeria and the Bahamas is to facilitate the entry of citizens of the governments of both countries who are holders of valid diplomatic and official passports into their respective countries.

It added, “The agreement once concluded would further protect the interest of both countries and strengthen their friendly relations.”

Mr Okoyen attended the various sessions of the Bahamas 2023 Diplomatic Week that celebrated “50 years of foreign relations and beyond in an independent Bahamas” which was held between 22 and 27 October, 2023.

He also participated in a hybrid high level panel discussion on “Diplomacy and the next generation” along with other representatives of the Bahamas, China, Indonesia, USA, and students from various schools in the country.

In Nassau, Okoyen also paid a courtesy visit to the Governor-General of the Bahamas, Ms. Cynthia Pratt, who bid him farewell as he took formal leave of the host authorities in The Bahamas.

(NAN)