Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, received a high-powered delegation from the Angolan government at the Bayelsa State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, in a move to strengthen bilateral ties and fast-track implementation of an existing cooperation agreement.
The delegation was led by the Executive Minister of State and Head of the Civil House of the Angolan President, His Excellency Dionisio Manuel Da Fonseca. Also on the delegation was the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Angola to Nigeria, Dr. José Bamoquina Zau.
The meeting was held in furtherance of the agreement signed in September 2025 in Luanda between the governments of Namibe Province in Angola and Bayelsa State.
Fonseca explained that he was in Nigeria as a representative of President João Lourenço, noting that the visit was aimed at cementing the existing bilateral relationship between Angola and Nigeria, as well as strengthening ties between Namibe and Bayelsa.
He stated that Angola was determined to collaborate with Bayelsa in implementing the agreement, particularly in tourism, business, trade and investment.
“Since our independence, Nigeria was one of the African countries that gave great support to Angola, and it is because of this that we are here representing the President of Angola, His Excellency João Lourenço,” Fonseca said.
“Bayelsa State and the Province of Namibe have an agreement in place, and we want to work together to ensure implementation of this agreement and make sure we have business relationships as well as trade and investment both ways.”
In his response, Governor Diri expressed appreciation to President João Lourenço, who is also the outgoing Chairman of the African Union, for sending the delegation.
He reaffirmed Bayelsa’s readiness to work with Angola to ensure full implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between the state and Namibe Province.
According to the governor, the trade and investment partnership will focus on areas where both sides have comparative advantages, including fisheries, aquaculture and the marine economy, agriculture, tourism, seaport-linked opportunities, and potentially oil and gas.
Diri noted that the visit was significant given that Nigeria and Angola had signed several bilateral agreements over the years without full implementation. He expressed optimism that the renewed engagement would fast-track the Bayelsa-Namibe agreement and revive broader Nigeria-Angola commitments.
The governor also recalled attending Angola’s 50th independence anniversary celebration in Abuja and said his earlier visit to Namibe was informed by the similarities between the two regions, describing Bayelsa and Namibe as coastal areas with comparable natural endowments.
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