VICTORIA, Seychelles — Seychelles and Nigeria agreed to elevate their bilateral relationship to a Bi-National Commission level at a high-level meeting between Foreign Affairs Minister Barry Faure and his Nigerian counterpart Bianca Odumegwa-Ojukwu on the sidelines of the Africa Forward Summit 2026 in Nairobi, signalling a significant upgrade in Seychelles-Nigeria cooperation. The two ministers discussed tourism revitalisation, private sector partnerships, and structured diplomatic engagement between the two African Union member states. Minister Faure described the discussions as rooted in mutual respect and shared African aspirations.
The diplomatic push carries direct economic significance for Seychelles, given Nigeria’s position as one of the continent’s largest economies and its historically strong demand for luxury travel to the archipelago. Nigerian weddings and honeymoons once made Seychelles among the most sought-after destinations for high-net-worth travellers from West Africa, a legacy both ministers are keen to restore. Reviving this tourism relationship could inject substantial foreign exchange revenue into the Seychelles economy and support employment across the hospitality sector.
Both sides agreed on a concrete set of measures to rebuild the tourism relationship, according to Minister Faure’s office. These include identifying barriers to travel and streamlining processes for Nigerian tourists, collaborating on marketing initiatives to reposition Seychelles as the top luxury choice for Nigerian travellers, and encouraging private sector partnerships within the hospitality and aviation industries. The proposed Bi-National Commission would provide a structured, high-level framework for addressing specific sectors of mutual interest on a sustained basis.
The historical relationship between Seychelles and Nigeria has deep roots within the African Union framework, built on shared values and continental solidarity. Minister Odumegwa-Ojukwu recalled Seychelles’ long-standing reputation as a premier destination for Nigerian travellers and expressed optimism that the new diplomatic course would serve as a model for intra-African cooperation. Both ministers agreed to reconvene in the near future to draft a formal roadmap for the renewed partnership.
The outcome of the Nairobi meeting reflects Seychelles’ broader foreign policy strategy of cultivating substantive relationships with major African economies and diversifying the sources of inbound tourism. Reducing reliance on a narrow set of traditional markets strengthens the resilience of the Seychelles tourism sector against external shocks. A formal Bi-National Commission would provide the institutional architecture to sustain long-term progress across diplomatic and economic domains.
Minister Faure affirmed that Nigerian citizens remain always welcome in Seychelles, and both governments are committed to building a future of robust cooperation.
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