President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Prime Minister Terrance Michael Drew have agreed to appoint special envoys to advance bilateral engagement, strengthen existing areas of cooperation, and ensure that the partnership yields gains for both nations and the wider Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
Prime Minister Drew disclosed this on Thursday while briefing State House Correspondents after a courtesy visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House in Abuja, where both leaders assessed existing bilateral engagements and considered new strategic cooperation.
According to him, the move to designate special envoys in Abuja and Basseterre is intended to reinforce institutional follow-through on existing understandings, while broadening collaboration between Nigeria, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and the wider African and Caribbean blocs.
“We have agreed that there will be a special envoy to Saint Kitts and Nevis, and of course, we would have a special envoy here to further the collaboration and make sure that the tangible benefits for both Saint Kitts and Nevis and the wider CARICOM and for Nigeria and the wider African continent.”
PM Drew commended President Tinubu for his leadership, openness, and commitment to strengthening Africa-Caribbean ties describing Nigeria as a “significant country” on the African continent and globally.
“It’s always a pleasure for me to be here in Nigeria. I was here last year around this time, and I’m back again, and I want to thank His Excellency, the President, who has been so gracious as a host,” he said.
Underscoring the historical and cultural ties between both countries, the Prime Minister noted that a significant number of citizens of Saint Kitts and Nevis can trace their ancestral roots to Nigeria, particularly the Calabar area.
“This is our people. Our people in Saint Kitts and Nevis fundamentally came from Calabar here in Nigeria. So I always say we have come back home,” he added.
Further speaking on other areas of cooperation, PM Drew said discussions with President Tinubu encompassed cultural exchange, education, agriculture, food security, and broader development partnerships between Africa and the Caribbean.
He identified existing collaborations in the health and education sectors as existing successes, emphasising that Nigerian-trained professionals have contributed significantly to development efforts in Saint Kitts and Nevis.
“A lot of Nigerians have studied in my country, and they are doctors here today. We had a contingent of doctors who went to Saint Kitts and Nevis already. We are seeing some tangible benefits with respect to our collaboration, and now we are taking it to the next level,” the PM noted.
The agreement between the Nigerian Leader, President Tinubu and Prime Minister Terrance Michael Drew to appoint special envoys reflects a move from symbolic diplomacy to more structured and results-oriented engagement between Nigeria and the Caribbean.
By establishing designated diplomatic channels in Abuja and Basseterre, both countries will further strengthen policy coordination, accelerate implementation of bilateral agreements, and drive tangible outcomes in key sectors including education, health, agriculture, and cultural exchange.
President since early 2025, prioritised renewed engagement with the Caribbean, recognising the region as both a strategic diplomatic partner and an extension of Africa’s historical diaspora
