Nigeria has expressed interest in expanding trade and investment relations with Saint Lucia, with a focus on key growth areas such as agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, renewable energy, and ICT.

Foreign affairs minister Yusuf Tuggar said this on Monday during a meeting with Saint Lucia’s counterpart, Alva Romanus Baptiste, according to a statement.

The meeting took place during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Saint Lucia and aimed to advance diplomatic, economic, and cultural engagement between the two countries.

Mr Tuggar expressed appreciation to Baptiste for his commitment to deepening relations between the two countries, adding that Nigeria and Saint Lucia’s historical and cultural bonds are deeply rooted in African ancestry, the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade, and a shared British colonial heritage.

He reiterated the existing relationship between the two nations, which formed their firm foundation towards renewed diplomatic and cultural engagement.

Mr Tuggar welcomed the move for formal diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Saint Lucia, saying the Nigerian High Commission in Port of Spain currently provides interim diplomatic and consular coverage for Saint Lucia.

According to him, the establishment of official diplomatic ties would provide a vital platform for enhancing bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Nigeria and Caribbean nations, particularly within the frameworks of the OECS and CARICOM.

He proposed the development of a structured partnership between Nigeria’s Technical Aid Corps and Saint Lucia’s Political and Economic Cooperation Development Division to forge their practical cooperation. This entails the deployment of Nigerian professionals in sectors such as health, education, agriculture, and technical services.

Additionally, exchanging best practices in governance, youth empowerment, and institutional capacity-building, as well as designing joint capacity development initiatives that serve as models for broader Africa–Caribbean collaboration.

The minister advised that both nations explore opportunities in education diplomacy, including scholarships, academic exchanges and collaborative research programmes to foster stronger people-to-people linkages.

Mr Tuggar expressed confidence that the growing partnership between Nigeria and Saint Lucia would bring about mutual prosperity and greater regional solidarity.

He emphasised the importance of cooperation on climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and access to climate finance, stating that Nigeria’s commitment to supporting Saint Lucia’s efforts as a Small Island Developing State is a recognition of the shared vulnerability to environmental threats.

He reiterated Nigeria’s readiness to champion the concerns of Saint Lucia and other SIDS on global platforms, including the United Nations and the Commonwealth.

Others include the African Union and the Caribbean Community’s ‘AU-CARICOM initiatives’ as part of a commitment to inclusive international engagement.

(NAN)