Reported by Usman Ishaq Shehu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is leading a strategic push to unlock a multibillion-dollar trade pact with Caribbean nations, particularly member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), whose combined GDP exceeds $130 billion. The move is part of Nigeria’s broader foreign policy thrust focused on the Four Ds: Democracy, Development, Diaspora, and Demography.
During his visit to Saint Lucia, President Tinubu emphasized the importance of reviving South–South cooperation, strengthening economic and cultural ties, and building a new frontier of trade and diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the Caribbean. He described the establishment of diplomatic ties with Saint Lucia as a symbolic bridge that would foster closer collaboration and mutual prosperity.
The initiative also seeks to tap into shared historical and ancestral connections, such as the legacy of Sir Darnley Alexander, a Saint Lucian who became Chief Justice of Nigeria. By positioning Nigeria as a gateway to Africa, President Tinubu aims to consolidate economic partnerships, promote people-to-people exchanges, and create lasting platforms for trade, investment, and development with the Caribbean bloc.