The Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Muhammad Matawalle, has arrived in São Tomé to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the inauguration of President Carlos Manuel Vila Nova for a second five-year term.
Vila Nova is scheduled to be sworn in on Thursday, 3 September 2026, at the National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional) in São Tomé.
In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said Matawalle’s presence at the ceremony reflected the strong bilateral relations between Nigeria and São Tomé and Príncipe, as well as the Federal Government’s commitment to democracy, good governance and peace in the Gulf of Guinea.
Vila Nova won the presidential election held on 19 July 2026, securing another five-year mandate.
The minister is expected to convey President Tinubu’s goodwill message to the São Toméan president and hold discussions with the country’s leadership on issues of mutual interest.
According to the ministry, the engagements are expected to focus particularly on defence cooperation and regional security.
It said Nigeria’s participation in the inauguration reaffirmed the country’s commitment to democratic governance and efforts to promote stability across the Gulf of Guinea.
Nigeria and São Tomé and Príncipe have maintained cordial diplomatic relations, with bilateral cooperation extending across areas including democracy, economic development, defence and maritime security.
