President Bola Tinubu is holding a closed-door meeting with Sierra Leonean President Julius Bio at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Bio arrived at the Villa’s forecourt at 12:22 pm on Monday, accompanied by the bagpipers of the Presidential Guards Brigade. He was welcomed by President Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, who led him into the meeting.
The meeting highlights the enduring diplomatic ties between Nigeria and Sierra Leone, which have remained strong since both countries gained independence Nigeria in 1960 and Sierra Leone in 1961. Both nations are active members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU), collaborating on various regional initiatives aimed at fostering peace, stability, and development.
Historically, Nigeria has played a significant role in supporting Sierra Leone, particularly during the Sierra Leone Civil War (1991-2002). Nigeria led the ECOWAS Monitoring Group in peacekeeping efforts and was instrumental in combating rebel factions and restoring the democratically elected government of President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah following a 1997 military coup. Nigerian forces were also key in the deployment of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) in 1999, assisting with disarmament and peace-building.
However, trade between the two nations has seen fluctuations in recent years. In 2023, Nigeria’s exports to Sierra Leone were valued at around $5.55 million, including products such as fertilizers, miscellaneous edible preparations, electrical and electronic equipment, glassware, and spices. On the other hand, Sierra Leone’s exports to Nigeria primarily consist of animal and vegetable fats and oils, machinery, rubber products, and seafood.
