Nigeria has granted visa-free entry to citizens of St. Kitts & Nevis, effective September 26, 2025, extending the privilege beyond Africa for the first time.

The waiver, which covers ordinary, official, and diplomatic passports, is expected to expand trade, investment, and cultural ties between the countries. Until now, Nigeria’s visa-free policy applied largely to citizens of ECOWAS states, with Cameroon and Chad as the only non-ECOWAS African countries enjoying such access.

The arrangement follows the Afri-Caribbean Investment Summit (AACIS ’25) held in Abuja earlier this year, organised by Aquarian Consult Limited (ACL). Managing Director of ACL, Aisha Maina, described the agreement as the outcome of deliberate engagement. “This visa waiver is more than diplomacy; it is about opening doors for trade, investment, and cultural exchange. At ACL, we are proud to have played a role in turning dialogue into action,” she said.

Diplomatic contacts between Nigeria and St. Kitts & Nevis have accelerated since March 2025, when Prime Minister Terrance Drew of St. Kitts & Nevis met with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja. That same month, a charter flight carrying 120 Nigerian delegates arrived in Basseterre, marking the first direct air connection between West Africa and the Caribbean.

Officials say the waiver complements ongoing cooperation in agribusiness, technology, and the creative economy. At the Afri-Caribbean Business Expo in Basseterre, investors explored trade opportunities, while bilateral talks in Abuja between Nigeria’s Agriculture Minister, Senator Abubakar Kyari, and St. Kitts & Nevis Agriculture Minister, Samal Duggins, focused on food security and trade facilitation.

Analysts view the move as part of Nigeria’s broader strategy to build targeted bilateral partnerships beyond Africa. By extending visa-free access to St. Kitts & Nevis, Nigeria signals its intention to strengthen mobility, tourism, and investment with the Caribbean, while building new corridors for people-to-people exchange.