Nigeria’s Vice President has departed the country for São Tomé, the capital of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe ahead of the nation’s Independence Day celebration.
Shettima, alongside his wife Hajiya Nana arrived in São Tomé on Saturday, July 12, 2025.
The vice president would be representing President Bola Tinubu at the nation’s 50th National Independence Day celebration.
This was disclosed by Stanley Nkwocha, the spokesperson for the vice president in a video post on X.
Nkwocha said the Vice President would be joining other African leaders and dignitaries at the event.
He wrote, “The Vice President departed Abuja on Saturday, July 12, to join other African leaders and dignitaries at the grand finale of activities marking the Golden Jubilee of the Central African Island nation’s independence.”
He added that Nigeria and São Tomé and Príncipe share a strong bilateral relationship, particularly focused on joint resource development in the Gulf of Guinea.
According to Nkwocha, the partnership between both nations is formalised through the Nigeria-São Tomé and Príncipe Joint Development Authority (NSTPJDA).
The NSTPJDA initiative manages the Joint Development Zone (JDZ).
He also stated that aside from resource management, Nigeria has also provided various forms of assistance to São Tomé and Príncipe, including technical aid, donations, and support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shettima is expected to return to Nigeria at the end of his engagement in São Tomé.
