President Bola Tinubu is currently meeting with Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja. President Bio arrived at the forecourt of the Villa at 12:22 p.m. on Monday, accompanied by the bagpipers of the Presidential Guards Brigade. He was received by the President’s Chief of Staff, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, who ushered him into the closed-door meeting.
Nigeria and Sierra Leone have maintained strong diplomatic relations since their respective independences in October 1960 and April 1961. Both nations are active members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU), collaborating on initiatives aimed at promoting peace, stability, and development in the region.
Historically, Nigeria played a pivotal role in supporting Sierra Leone during its civil war (1991–2002), leading the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) in peacekeeping efforts to restore stability. Nigerian forces were also instrumental in combating rebel factions and reinstating the democratically elected government of President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah after a military coup in 1997. This led to the deployment of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) in 1999, which assisted in disarmament and peace-building processes.
In recent years, trade between the two countries has fluctuated. A 2023 estimate valued Nigeria’s exports to Sierra Leone at approximately $5.55 million, including fertilizers, miscellaneous edible preparations, electrical and electronic equipment, glass and glassware, and coffee, tea, mate, and spices. Meanwhile, Sierra Leone’s main exports to Nigeria include animal and vegetable fats and oils, machinery and boilers, rubber products, and fish and crustaceans.
The meeting between Presidents Tinubu and Bio is expected to further strengthen bilateral ties and explore new areas of cooperation for mutual benefit.
