The purpose of the proposed agreement between Nigeria and The Bahamas is to facilitate the entry of citizens of both countries who are holders of valid diplomatic and official passports, into their respective countries.

Nigeria and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas are committed to signing a visa waiver agreement for Diplomatic and Official Passport holders of both countries.

The Prime Minister of the Bahamas, Philip Davis, gave this commitment when Ambassador Benaoyagha Okoyen, the High Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas paid him a courtesy visit.

A statement from the Nigerian Embassy in Havana on Wednesday stated that Mr Okoyen paid Mr Davis a courtesy visit at Nassau on Monday. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Bahamas, Fred Mitchel, joined Mr Davis to receive Mr Okoyen.

Mr Okoyen is Nigeria's Ambassador to Cuba with concurrent accreditation to the Bahamas, Republic of Nicaragua and Honduras.

According to the statement, the purpose of the proposed agreement between Nigeria and the Bahamas is to facilitate the entry of citizens of both countries who are holders of valid diplomatic and official passports, into their respective countries.

"The agreement once concluded would further protect the interest of both countries and strengthen their friendly relations," the statement said.

Mr Okoyen attended the various sessions of the Bahamas 2023 Diplomatic Week that celebrated "50 years of Foreign Relations and beyond in an independent Bahamas" between 22 and 27 October 2023.

He also participated in a hybrid High-Level Panel Discussion on "Diplomacy and the Next Generation" along with other representatives of the Bahamas, China, Indonesia, USA, and participating students from various schools in the country.

While in Nassau, Mr Okoyen also paid a courtesy visit to the Governor-General of the Bahamas, Cynthia Pratt, who bid the high commissioner farewell as he took formal leave of the host authority in the Bahamas.

(NAN)