Nigeria and Angola have signed a bilateral agreement waiving visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and official passports, a move expected to ease official travel and deepen cooperation between the two countries.
The agreement was signed on Sunday on the margins of the 39th Session of the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Nigeria’s delegation was led by Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, while Angola was represented by its Minister of International Relations, Tete Antonio.
Explaining the significance of the deal, Tuggar said the arrangement “will facilitate smoother official exchanges, deepen institutional cooperation, and create broader opportunities for joint initiatives, dialogue, and partnership,” noting that officials from both countries would now move “more freely and efficiently without administrative hindrances.”
Long overdue
Ambassador Tete Antonio was quoted to have said, “It is instructive to note that, in light of the well-established historical ties and record of mutual solidarity between Nigeria and Angola, the signing of this agreement can rightly be regarded as long overdue.”
Nigeria says its engagements on visa liberalisation reflect broader diplomatic efforts that represent a shift to grant visa-free access to countries outside ECOWAS member states.
Earlier in 2025, Nigeria and Ethiopia also moved toward ratifying a similar visa-waiver agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders, reflecting a broader push to streamline official travel across the continent.
