Edith CHUKU
In a renewed commitment to deepen cooperation in tourism and other key sectors of mutual interest, Bayelsa State and the Republic of Angola have signed a Memorandum of Understanding MoU.
The MoU is in furtherance of the agreement signed in September 2025, in Luanda, between the governments of Namibe Province in Angola and Bayelsa, aimed at fostering closer economic and cultural ties.
The governor, Senator Douye Diri, on Tuesday received a delegation from the Angolan government at the Bayelsa State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja.
The team led by the Executive Minister of State and Head of the Civil House of the Angolan President, His Excellency Dionisio Manuel Da Fonseca, included the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Angola to Nigeria, Dr. José Bamoquina Zau.
Speaking during the meeting, Fonseca said he was in Nigeria as a representative of the Angolan President, His Excellency João Lourenço, to strengthen the existing bilateral relationship between Angola and Nigeria, as well as between Namibe and Bayelsa.
He emphasized Angola’s determination to work with Bayelsa to fully implement the agreement, particularly in the areas of tourism, business, trade, and investment.
Fonseca explained that, “since our independence, Nigeria was one of the African countries that gave great support to Angola, and it is because of this that we are here representing the President of Angola, His Excellency João Lourenço.
“Bayelsa State and the Province of Namibe have an agreement in place, and we want to work together to ensure implementation of this agreement and make sure we have business relationships as well as trade and investment both ways.”
In his response, Diri expressed appreciation to the President of Angola and outgoing Chairman of the African Union, João Lourenço, for the delegation’s visit.
His words “I gave assurance of Bayelsa’s readiness to work with Angola to ensure the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between our State and the Namibe Province.
“The trade and investment partnership will focus on areas both sides have comparative advantages, including fisheries, aquaculture and marine economy, agriculture, tourism, and seaport-linked opportunities, with oil and gas also listed as a possible area of cooperation.
“The visit was equally significant because Nigeria and Angola had signed many bilateral agreements over the years without implementation, and I noted that this would fast-track implementation of the Bayelsa-Namibe agreement as well as revive Nigeria-Angola bilateral commitments.”
The Bayelsa helmsman said he attended Angola’s 50th anniversary celebration in Abuja and that his earlier visit to Namibe was informed by the similarities between both regions.
Bayelsa and Namibe are both coastal areas and share similar natural endowments
