Presidency defends Tinubu’s state visit to Saint Lucia

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Presidency defends Tinubu’s state visit to Saint Lucia



The Presidency has dismissed criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ongoing state visit to Saint Lucia, describing detractors as “misguided, mischievous and uninformed.”

In a statement issued by presidential adviser Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said the trip is a historic first for a Nigerian leader and is anchored in “deep ancestral, diplomatic, economic and cultural ties” with the Caribbean nation.

Saint Lucia—a 179,000-strong island economy built on tourism and agriculture—belongs to both the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). CARICOM’s combined GDP of more than $130 billion, the statement noted, offers fertile ground for South-South trade and development.

Shared history and people-to-people links

Large waves of migrants from present-day Nigeria settled in Saint Lucia in the mid-19th century, leaving cultural and religious traditions that still flourish. One notable link is Sir Darnley Alexander, the Saint Lucian-born jurist who served as Nigeria’s Chief Justice from 1975 to 1979. Other Lucians, such as architect Neville Skeete, likewise contributed to Nigeria’s development.

The “Four D’s” of foreign policy

The Presidency framed the visit around Nigeria’s foreign-policy pillars of Democracy, Development, Diaspora and Demography:

  • Democracy – Strengthening ties with another stable parliamentary democracy; Saint Lucian commentators hailed Tinubu as “a fighter for democracy” for his activism during Nigeria’s military era.
  • Development – Tinubu’s engagements with Sir Arthur Lewis Community College and the continued deployment of Nigerian Technical Aid Corps volunteers highlight education and technical cooperation.
  • Diaspora – The trip supports the African Union’s Sixth Region Initiative, treating the African diaspora as a key development partner. The popularity of Afrobeats, Nollywood and Nigerian literature at events like the Gros Islet Street Party underscores Nigeria’s growing soft power.
  • Demography – Tinubu will stress that Nigeria’s youthful population can drive innovation and industry, urging partners to tap that potential.

Key events

During the visit, Tinubu will address a special joint session of the Saint Lucian Parliament at the Sandals Grande Conference Hall and meet the local Nigerian community at a reception hosted by Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre.

Saint Lucia has welcomed fewer than a dozen state visits since its 1979 independence; the last African leader to visit was Nelson Mandela in 1998. The Presidency therefore calls Tinubu’s presence “a momentous diplomatic occasion” and a timely step toward deeper Africa–Caribbean cooperation in an era of global realignment.

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