Nasarawa State has deepened sub-national diplomacy with Angola following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Governor Abdullahi Sule and Governor of Bengo Province, Dr Maria Antónia Nelumba, covering key sectors including agriculture and education.
The MoU was signed on Tuesday in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, marking a new phase of bilateral cooperation aimed at leveraging comparative advantages to boost socio-economic development in both regions.
Governor Sule said the agreement followed extensive engagements by technical teams from both sides, which identified strong similarities between Nasarawa State and Bengo Province, particularly their proximity to national capitals — Abuja and Luanda respectively.
“We identified common challenges and opportunities arising from our proximity to the capital cities. Based on our comparative advantages in areas such as agriculture, mining, oil and gas, education and health, we agreed to begin cooperation in selected priority sectors,” Sule said.
He explained that while Bengo Province has demonstrated strong capacity in certain agricultural areas, Nasarawa State also brings complementary strengths, creating opportunities for knowledge exchange, joint investment and capacity building.
The governor described as significant the plan to establish a One-Stop Investment Hub for Angolan investors seeking opportunities in Nasarawa State, noting that the initiative would ease entry, coordination and project implementation.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr Maria Antónia Nelumba described the agreement as a historic milestone, saying it reflects growing solidarity and brotherhood between Nigeria and Angola.
“The signing of this agreement goes beyond formal cooperation. It symbolises fraternity between our peoples and our shared determination to advance economic, environmental and social development,” she said.
She added that the agreement positions both regions to move forward together through structured collaboration and shared development goals.
Following the signing, Governor Sule and Dr Nelumba jointly inaugurated the One-Stop Shop Investment House, located at the headquarters of the Nasarawa State Investment Development Agency (NASIDA), alongside the Multi-Door Court in Lafia.
Umar Muhammed
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