23 years after, Nigeria, Angola return to the negotiating table

Nigeria and Angola are set to sign no fewer than 15 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) during the ongoing 5th session of the Nigeria-Angola Bilateral Economic Joint Commission (BEJC) in Luanda.

The meeting, which began on Tuesday, marks the first session since the last one held in Abuja in 2001.

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, said the agreements will strengthen ties between both nations and open new opportunities in several sectors.

The MoUs cover areas such as the establishment of a Nigeria-Angola Business Council, economic and technical cooperation, security collaboration, education, youth development, defence and intelligence, mining, health, migration, and media exchanges.

Other agreements include visa waivers for holders of diplomatic and official passports, cooperation on anti-corruption, transfer of sentenced persons, cultural exchanges, and partnerships in manpower development.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu expressed delight at the revival of the Joint Commission after more than two decades, describing it as a chance to “resuscitate the moribund bilateral agreements” and explore new opportunities in oil, gas, minerals, and aviation.

She disclosed that discussions would also include the possibility of Nigerian airlines commencing flights to Angola and strengthening bilateral air services.

In his remarks, Angola’s Secretary of State for International Cooperation, Domingos Vieira Lopes, welcomed the Nigerian delegation and expressed optimism about fruitful outcomes from the session.