Nigeria and Angola have signed a bilateral agreement to facilitate the movement of diplomats and government officials between the two countries.

According to a statement on Monday by foreign affairs minister Yusuf Tuggar, the draft agreement, which focuses on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and official/service passports, was formally signed on Sunday.

The agreement was signed on the margins of the 39th Ordinary Session of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union in Addis Ababa, while the Angolan delegation was led by its international relations minister, Tete Antonio.

Mr Tuggar expressed satisfaction at the eventual signing of the Agreement, saying the initiative had been long overdue and represented a timely step in strengthening bilateral engagement.

He explained the agreement would significantly enhance diplomatic and official relations between the two brotherly countries, by easing travel procedures for holders of diplomatic and official/service passports.

He commended the Nigerian-Angolan relations for being rooted in a shared history traceable to the period of ideological conflict between the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola and the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola.

He described the agreement as a firm declaration of African independence in decision-making and Nigeria’s solidarity with the Angolan people in their struggle, laying an enduring foundation for the strong diplomatic and political ties that continue between both countries today.

Mr Antonio conveyed profound appreciation for the enduring and historic bond between Angola and Nigeria, particularly recalling the period of anti-colonial struggle and the quest for national independence across the continent.

He underscored Nigeria’s principled leadership role in West Africa, saying it stood firmly with frontline states, providing strong diplomatic and political backing that contributed meaningfully to Angola’s liberation efforts.

He described the newly signed Agreement as a practical and forward-looking milestone that will further consolidate the long-standing historical and diplomatic ties between both countries, while opening new avenues for closer official engagement and cooperation.

(NAN)