On Monday, President Bola Tinubu received Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio at the State House in Abuja.
Bio, accompanied by the bagpipers of the Presidential Guards Brigade, arrived at the Villa’s forecourt at 12:22 pm, where he was received by the President’s Chief of Staff, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, before being ushered into the meeting.
The meeting highlights the strong diplomatic ties between Nigeria and Sierra Leone, which have endured since both nations gained independence in 1960 and 1961, respectively. Both countries are active members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union, collaborating on initiatives aimed at promoting peace, stability, and development within the region.
Historically, Nigeria played a crucial role in supporting Sierra Leone during its civil war from 1991 to 2002, leading the ECOWAS Monitoring Group’s peacekeeping efforts to restore stability. Nigerian forces were key in combatting rebel factions and reinstating Sierra Leone’s democratically elected government under President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah following a military coup in 1997. This involvement led to the deployment of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone in 1999, which assisted in disarmament and peacebuilding.
While the countries share strong political and diplomatic relations, trade between them has been inconsistent in recent years. A 2023 estimate valued Nigeria’s exports to Sierra Leone at approximately $5.55 million, with key exports including fertilizers, edible preparations, electrical equipment, glassware, and coffee. In return, Sierra Leone’s main exports to Nigeria include animal and vegetable fats, machinery, rubber products, and seafood.
