Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dunoma Umar Ahmed, PhD, on Tuesday, 28 January 2026, received the Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to Nigeria, Her Excellency Ambassador (Mrs) Miriam Morales Palmero, at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja. This was contained in a statement signed by Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja.
The meeting provided an opportunity for both sides to review the state of Nigeria–Cuba bilateral relations, exchange views on pressing international issues, and reaffirm their shared commitment to peace, multilateralism, and international law.
Ambassador Morales Palmero expressed appreciation to the Government of Nigeria for its consistent support. She noted that Nigeria’s longstanding solidarity reflects the cordial and principled relationship between both countries, especially within multilateral platforms.
The Cuban Ambassador briefed the Permanent Secretary on current developments in Latin America and broader regional implications.
She called for greater understanding and international cooperation, stressing Cuba’s commitment to peaceful engagement, social development, free education, universal healthcare, and gender inclusion. She reaffirmed Cuba’s openness to dialogue based on mutual respect and non-interference.
In addition, Ambassador Morales Palmero informed the Permanent Secretary of plans for a proposed high-level visit to Nigeria by the Vice President of Cuba, Salvador Valdés Mesa, following the African Union Summit. She explained that the visit would serve as a follow-up to earlier high-level engagements between both countries and further strengthen political, economic, and diplomatic cooperation.
The Permanent Secretary, in his response, welcomed the Cuban Ambassador and reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to continue strengthening its longstanding relationship with Cuba. He emphasised that Nigeria remains firmly committed to peace, security, and the peaceful resolution of disputes, in line with the principles of international law.
He assured the Cuban side of Nigeria’s continued solidarity and willingness to engage constructively within multilateral frameworks to address shared global challenges.
Ambassador Ahmed further highlighted Nigeria’s active role in multilateral diplomacy, including its engagement within the United Nations system and other international platforms, and underscored the importance of cooperation among developing countries in addressing global security, development, and human rights concerns.
Both parties concluded the meeting by reaffirming their mutual commitment to deepening Nigeria – Cuba relations for the benefit of their peoples and to sustaining collaboration on regional and global issues of common interest.
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