Nigeria and Saint Kitts and Nevis are set to strengthen bilateral relations with plans to exchange special envoys and expand cooperation across key sectors, Prime Minister Terence Michael Drew has disclosed.

Speaking during his visit to Abuja, Drew said discussions with President Bola Tinubu focused on practical steps to scale up collaboration between Nigeria, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and the wider African continent.

Central to the new push is the decision to appoint special envoys on both sides to drive implementation and ensure that agreed initiatives translate into measurable outcomes.

“We have agreed to take this relationship to the next level. There will be a special envoy to Saint Kitts and Nevis, and we will also have one here in Nigeria to further the collaboration and ensure tangible benefits,” he said.

Drew identified priority areas of engagement to include cultural exchange, education, agriculture, and food security, alongside broader development partnerships aimed at addressing shared global challenges.

According to him, existing cooperation has already begun to yield results, particularly in the health sector, where academic and professional exchanges have strengthened capacity on both sides.

“A lot of Nigerians have studied in my country and are now practising as doctors here. We also had a contingent of doctors who went to Saint Kitts and Nevis, and we are already seeing tangible benefits,” he noted.

The Prime Minister also underscored the historical and cultural ties linking both regions, noting that many citizens of Saint Kitts and Nevis trace their ancestry to Calabar in southern Nigeria.

“This is home for us. Our people in Saint Kitts and Nevis fundamentally came from Calabar, so returning here is always special,” he added.

He commended President Tinubu’s leadership and openness, describing Nigeria as a pivotal partner whose collaboration continues to support development efforts in the Caribbean.

Drew further reiterated CARICOM’s position as the “sixth region” of the African Union, stressing the importance of closer Africa-Caribbean integration in advancing shared interests on the global stage.