Presidency Clarifies Tinubu’s Saint Lucia Visit as Diplomatic Mission, Not Vacation

 The Nigerian Presidency, on June 29, 2025, clarified that President Bola Tinubu’s visit to Saint Lucia is a strategic diplomatic engagement, not a vacation, countering social media speculation. Tinubu, who arrived on June 28, was received with a 21-gun salute by Governor-General Cyril Errol Melchiades Charles and Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre. 

Spokesman Bayo Onanuga emphasized that the trip, followed by the BRICS Summit in Brazil, aims to strengthen Nigeria’s $2 billion agricultural export market and secure a $500 million renewable energy deal.

Tinubu’s itinerary includes bilateral talks to boost trade in cassava and cocoa, which employ 5 million Nigerians, and a keynote at Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, offering 1,000 scholarships for Caribbean students. 

The visit addresses Nigeria’s 12,000 MW power deficit, with Saint Lucia’s solar expertise eyed for a 10% capacity increase by 2027. Critics, citing Nigeria’s 33% inflation, question the trip’s timing, while supporters highlight its potential to attract $5 billion in FDI, building on Tinubu’s 2024 UK trade success. The Presidency plans a July 5 report to the National Assembly.