Nigeria has granted visa-free entry to citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis, marking the first time Africa’s largest economy has extended such privileges to a nation outside the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and beyond the African continent.
The policy, effective from September 26, 2025, was facilitated through the AfriCaribbean Investment Summit (AACIS), an initiative driven by Abuja-based Aquarian Consult Limited (ACL), under the leadership of its managing director, Aisha Maina.
Maina noted that under the agreement, holders of ordinary, official, and diplomatic passports from St. Kitts and Nevis can now enter Nigeria without a visa.
Advertisement
To order your copy, send a WhatsApp message to +1 317 665 2180
“The federation becomes the first country outside ECOWAS to enjoy such status, joining Cameroon and Chad as the only non-ECOWAS African nations with similar arrangements.
“The move is seen as a strategic step to strengthen trade, investment, and cultural exchanges, while reinforcing Nigeria’s commitment to South-South cooperation.
“The inaugural AACIS 2025, held in Abuja in March with St. Kitts and Nevis as the country of focus, provided the platform for this mobility reform,” Maina stated.
She added that the summit’s outcomes saw President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria and Prime Minister Terrance Drew of St. Kitts and Nevis reaffirming their commitment to deeper bilateral relations.
This was followed by the first-ever direct charter flight between Abuja and Basseterre, which transported 120 Nigerian delegates to the Caribbean nation.
According to Samal Duggins, St. Kitts and Nevis’ minister for small business and entrepreneurship, this reciprocal visa-waiver agreement marks a historic milestone.
“This is more than simplified travel—it’s a powerful symbol of deepening diplomatic relations, of an expanding presence on the African continent, and of honouring bonds of shared history.
“St. Kitts and Nevis is proud to stand as a bridge between Africa and the Caribbean, opening doors for trade, cultural exchange, and new opportunities for generations to come,” Duggins said.
The visa-free policy is already being hailed as the foundation for a new Afri-Caribbean trade corridor.
Nigerian businesses are expected to benefit from smoother access to Caribbean markets, while St. Kitts and Nevis positions itself as a gateway to the wider Caribbean Community (CARICOM) bloc.
Through the Afri-Caribbean Business Expo held in Basseterre, Aquarian Consult Limited showcased innovations in agribusiness, technology, and creative industries.
Agricultural cooperation has also advanced, with Nigeria’s minister of agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari, holding bilateral discussions with Duggins on food security and trade facilitation in Abuja.
“This is what strategic facilitation looks like. We are turning conversations into actionable investments, from infrastructure to agriculture, tourism, and beyond,” Maina said.
She noted that the second edition of the AfriCaribbean Investment Summit is scheduled for March 2026 in Abuja, with stakeholders anticipating expanded outcomes across cultural diplomacy, youth exchange, trade, and investment flows.
“ACL’s role is to ensure Africa and the Caribbean are not just talking about unity, but living it. The Nigeria–St. Kitts partnership proves that when we move with purpose, we create opportunities that change lives,” Maina added.
