Nigeria and Angola have signed a bilateral agreement waiving visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and official passports, leaving out their own citizens.
The Nigerian government says the deal s aimed at strengthening ties between the two countries.
According to a press statement issued by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, the agreement was signed on Sunday, February 15, 2026, on the sidelines of the 39th Session of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The deal applies only to holders of diplomatic and official passports, meaning ordinary Nigerian and Angolan citizens will not benefit from the visa waiver.
Governments typically extend such arrangements to facilitate smoother travel for government officials, envoys, and other state representatives.
While the statement did not provide further details on implementation timelines, duration of stay, or reciprocal administrative conditions, visa waivers for diplomatic passport holders are often framed as confidence-building measures that can pave the way for broader cooperation in trade, security, and political coordination.
Nigeria and Angola are both key oil-producing nations and influential members of regional and continental bodies, including the African Union.
However, the announcement did not clarify whether the agreement is part of a wider push toward easing travel restrictions within Africa, a long-standing goal under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.
The signing took place during the 39th Session of the African Union, hosted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where African leaders gathered to deliberate on continental integration, security, and economic development.
As of press time, neither government had released additional documentation outlining the scope of the agreement or whether discussions are underway to extend similar waivers to other categories of travelers.
