Saint Lucia: Tinubu mulls visa waivers for Eastern Caribbean citizens

President Bola Tinubu formally announced on Monday, the establishment of diplomatic relations with Saint Lucia, describing it as a “symbolic bridge that will provide a gateway to fostering closer ties between both nations.”

President Tinubu stated this while addressing a special joint session of the Senate and House of Assembly of Saint Lucia at the William Jefferson Clinton Ballroom, Sandals Grande, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia.

The President proposed creating a Joint Commission or Political Consultation Agreement as a mechanism for structured cooperation between Nigeria and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

President Tinubu also announced that he would offer full scholarships to students of OECS to promote cultural understanding that further strengthens the bond between Nigeria and the Eastern Caribbean states.

The Nigerian leader, who delivered his address in the presence of leaders from the OECS, emphasised the deep historical and cultural bonds between Nigeria and the OECS, and called for greater people-to-people engagement.

The leaders of Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, the Premier of Montserrat, Saint Martin and Saint Vincent were in the audience.

According to Tinubu, Nigeria is open to visa waivers for OECS diplomatic and official passport holders, and urged reciprocal gestures to facilitate smoother official travel and closer institutional cooperation.

”I respectfully urge a reciprocal gesture to enable smoother movement of officials and foster closer institutional cooperation,” he said.

He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deepening ties with OECS and Caribbean nations, anchored in shared African heritage and Pan-African ideals.

Saint Lucia: Tinubu mulls visa waivers for Eastern Caribbean citizens