Angola to Begin Exporting Bananas to Nigeria by 2026

Luanda: Angola has set its sights on exporting bananas to Nigeria starting in 2026, as announced by Bengo provincial governor Antónia Nelumba. The announcement was made during the 5th meeting of the Angola-Nigeria Bilateral Joint Commission held in Luanda, with plans focusing on leveraging Bengo, a significant banana-producing region in Angola, as the primary source for these exports. According to Angola Press News Agency, Governor Nelumba emphasized Angola's desire to strengthen its cooperative ties with Nasarawa State in Nigeria. This move is part of a broader initiative discussed at the bilateral meeting, which involves reviewing and updating over 20 existing agreements and memoranda of cooperation between the two nations. These efforts aim to address critical economic challenges and enhance future political and diplomatic collaborations. The bilateral discussions are exploring various sectors, including defense and security, cyber and digital diplomacy, the economy and trade, justice, culture, air and m aritime transport, telecommunications and media, and tourism. Angola and Nigeria are seeking to establish new legal frameworks to guide their cooperation in these areas. The meeting is led by Domingos Vieira Lopes, Angola's Secretary of State for International Cooperation of MIREX, and Bianca Odumgwu-Ojukwu, Nigeria's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, highlighting the importance both countries place on their partnership and the potential for growth in their bilateral relations.