Tinubu to meet Eastern Caribbean leaders in St Lucia

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is billed to meet with members of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) at St Lucia during his visit to the Caribbean country. The president is scheduled to visit St Lucia from June 28 to July 4, Prime Minister Phillip J Pierre of St Lucia had said. The visit will […]

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is billed to meet with members of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) at St Lucia during his visit to the Caribbean country.

The president is scheduled to visit St Lucia from June 28 to July 4, Prime Minister Phillip J Pierre of St Lucia had said.

The visit will mark a historic first from the Nigerian leader for the Caribbean Island and signal a deepening of ties between Africa and the region as a whole.

It is in view of that that Pierre has invited leaders of OECS to travel to St Lucia during President Tinubu’s visit for formal talks with him.

The discussions, the Lucian leader said, were expected to explore cooperation in areas like economic development, education, infrastructure, and diplomatic exchange.

The OECS countries expected at the talks include Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Montserrat, the British Virgin Islands and Anguilla.

Even though the Presidency in Nigeria is yet to speak on the trip, during a cabinet press meeting on Monday, Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre announced the visit, stating that the topics of conversation are anticipated to be infrastructure, education, economic development, and diplomatic ties.

Hilaire stated in his parliamentary statements that Tinubu will be attending more formal events.

President Tinubu is also expected to address the joint sitting of the St Lucian parliament during the visit.

In March this year, the Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Terrance Michael Drew, was in Abuja to meet with President Tinubu.

The visit was to deepen economic partnership on key sectors, including trade, energy and agriculture between the two countries.

Speaking during a meeting with the Prime Minister, President Tinubu emphasised the importance of strengthening bilateral relations and exploring mutual opportunities between Africa and the Caribbean.

“It’s a very great opportunity for Africa to connect widely, and Nigeria in particular, to strengthen our bilateral relations and examine and exploit all the economic opportunities that are available to us so that we can achieve more for ourselves,” President Tinubu said.

The meeting, which held on the sidelines of an investment summit in Abuja, marks a significant step in Nigeria’s push to forge stronger economic and diplomatic ties beyond the continent.

Prime Minister Drew said the visit reflected the Caribbean nation’s intention to build a solid bridge between the region and Africa, particularly Nigeria, which he described as a leader on the continent.

He identified agriculture, energy, logistics, transport, and trade as key areas of collaboration, adding that food security and sustainable energy remain top priorities for both nations.