President Bola Tinubu is currently hosting his Sierra Leonean counterpart, Julius Bio, for a closed-door meeting at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja. Bio arrived at the Villa at 12:22 pm on Monday, accompanied by the Presidential Guards Brigade bagpipers, marking a ceremonial welcome.
The Sierra Leonean president was received by Nigeria’s Chief of Staff, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, before proceeding into the private talks with President Tinubu.
The longstanding diplomatic ties between Nigeria and Sierra Leone have been strong since both nations gained independence in the early 1960s—Nigeria in October 1960 and Sierra Leone in April 1961. As members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union, both countries have cooperated on various initiatives focused on peace, stability, and development within the region.
Notably, Nigeria played a crucial role in Sierra Leone’s recovery during its civil war from 1991 to 2002. Nigeria led the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) peacekeeping efforts, significantly contributing to the stability of Sierra Leone, which later led to the establishment of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) in 1999 to support disarmament and peace-building processes.
However, trade between the two nations has been somewhat inconsistent in recent years. In 2023, Nigeria’s exports to Sierra Leone were valued at around $5.55 million. These exports primarily included fertilizers, electrical equipment, glassware, and food items like coffee, tea, and spices.
On the other hand, Sierra Leone’s exports to Nigeria include machinery, rubber products, fish, and oils. Despite occasional fluctuations in trade, the two nations continue to maintain a strong bond, working together to promote regional peace and cooperation.
