Abuja: Angola has moved to fast-track implementation of a Blue Economy partnership with Bayelsa following the visit of an Angolan delegation to Gov. Douye Diri on Wednesday. The visit underscores a commitment to translate existing agreements into tangible economic gains.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the delegation was led by Angola’s Executive Minister of State and Head of the Civil House of the President, Mr. Dionisio Da Fonseca, in Abuja. Da Fonseca highlighted that the priority was to activate the sister city agreement between Bayelsa and Namibe Province, one of Angola’s leading coastal and tourism hubs. The focus of this partnership is on practical cooperation in fisheries development, port infrastructure, gas-based industrialisation, and two-way investment. He emphasized the historical support Nigeria provided for Angola’s independence, which laid a foundation for stronger economic ties.
In response, Governor Diri expressed that the Blue Economy pact aligns with Bayelsa’s economic diversification drive and reaffirmed the state’s readiness to implement the Memorandum of Understanding signed with Namibe Province. The governor indicated that the partnership would prioritize areas such as fisheries, aquaculture, marine economy, agriculture, tourism, and seaport-related opportunities, with oil and gas as potential collaboration sectors. Diri also noted that many bilateral agreements between Nigeria and Angola suffered from poor implementation in the past, underscoring the significance of this initiative.
The governor mentioned that Bayelsa was expecting a reciprocal visit from the Governor of Namibe Province, citing previous scheduling challenges as the cause of delays. He stressed that stronger cooperation between Bayelsa and Namibe would deepen Nigeria-Angola relations and boost intra-African trade. Governor Diri extended an invitation to the delegation to visit Yenagoa to advance concrete action on the Bayelsa-Namibe MoU.