Nigeria, Angola Deepen Ties With New Deals on Drug Control, Culture, and Sub-National Cooperation

Nigeria and Angola have entered a new phase in their diplomatic and economic relations after signing a series of agreements aimed at tackling narcotics trafficking, strengthening cultural collaboration, and expanding state-to-province partnerships.

The accords were concluded during the 5th Session of the Nigeria–Angola Bilateral Economic Joint Commission, which held in Luanda from September 9 to 12, 2025. It was the first time in 24 years that the Joint Commission had convened.

Speaking after the signing ceremony, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, said the talks underscored a shared commitment to deepen cooperation in line with the development goals of both countries. She described the agreements as “not merely ceremonial but strategic instruments to promote sustainable growth, job creation, and poverty reduction.”

Two primary pacts were endorsed:

• A cooperation framework to combat the illicit production and trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and their precursors.

• A cultural cooperation and exchange agreement designed to boost collaboration in arts, film, music, and heritage preservation.

Sub-national partnerships also featured prominently. Bayelsa State and Angola’s Namibe Province signed a historic “twinning agreement” to explore opportunities in commerce, tourism, education, and environmental management. Another pact linked Nasarawa State with Angola’s Bengo Province, focusing on agriculture, trade, and social development.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu disclosed that both delegations reviewed 28 draft Memoranda of Understanding, covering areas such as visa waivers, simplified customs procedures, marine tourism, and creative-sector investment. Among the proposals is an international boat cruise linking the Nigerian and Angolan coasts, intended to expand tourism during festive periods.

Angola’s Secretary of State for International Cooperation, Ambassador Domingos Lopes, who signed on behalf of his government, praised the outcomes as “a framework to energise economic and cultural exchanges, and to bring our peoples closer.”

Also in attendance were Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri and Namibe Province Governor Archer Mangueira, who jointly formalised the Bayelsa–Namibe cooperation deal.

Officials from both sides agreed to refine and sign additional MoUs in the coming months, signalling an intention to maintain momentum beyond the Luanda meeting. The agreements, they said, mark a practical step toward repositioning Nigeria–Angola relations for mutual prosperity, improved security, and broader people-to-people contact.