Tinubu heads to Saint Lucia on state visit, Brazil for BRICS summit

President Bola Tinubu will on Saturday depart Abuja, the nation’s capital, for Saint Lucia, a country in the Caribbean.

In a statement issued on Friday, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said Tinubu’s visit is “part of efforts to deepen Nigeria’s engagement with Caribbean nations”.

Onanuga said Tinubu will pay courtesy visits to Cyril Errol Melchiades Charles, governor-general of Saint Lucia, and Philip Pierre, the country’s prime minister.

He said the president will address a special joint session of the senate and house of assembly of Saint Lucia at the William Jefferson Clinton ballroom, Sandals Grande, Gros Islet.

“The Heads of Government of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, members of the Nigerian community in the country and the Director-General of OECS, Dr Didacus Jules, have been invited to attend the special session,” the statement reads.

“President Tinubu will hold a high-level working luncheon with the Heads of Government of OECS after the joint session of the Parliament of Saint Lucia.

“Discussions at the luncheon will focus on specific parameters to deepen cooperation between Nigeria and the OECS for shared prosperity through economic partnerships and cultural solidarity.

“According to the president’s itinerary, he will visit the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College in Castries to strengthen educational ties and promote academic exchange.”

On June 16, during a pre-cabinet press briefing, Pierre announced that Tinubu would visit the country for official engagements and private leisure time.

“Two of these days, June 30 and July 1, will be dedicated to an official visit, with the remainder of the trip set aside as a personal vacation for the president,” the prime minister had said.

FROM SAINT LUCIA TO BRAZIL

Onanuga said after Tinubu’s visit to Saint Lucia, the president would travel to Brazil for the 2025 BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro from July 6 to 7, 2025.

The presidential spokesperson said Tinubu was invited to the summit by Lula da Silva, president of Brazil, “on the strength of Nigeria’s status as a ‘partner country’ — a membership category short of full status.

Onanuga said senior government officials will accompany Tinubu on both visits.