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Angola Honours Nigerian Leaders, Salutes Five Decades of Friendship and Freedom
By Gloria Ikibah
The Ambassador of the Republic of Angola to Nigeria, His Excellency José Bamóquina Zau, has hailed Nigeria’s steadfast support for Angola’s liberation and peace, as the Southern African nation marked its 50th Independence Anniversary in Abuja on 11 November 2025.
Delivering his address at the golden jubilee celebration on Thursday in Abuja, with the theme: “Pieces of Angola’s History Told By Protagonists” Ambassador Zau expressed deep gratitude to Nigeria for its role in Angola’s freedom struggle and post-war peacebuilding, describing the milestone as a “moment of shared pride for both nations.”
The envoy stated that the President of Angola, João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, had earlier in the day decorated three distinguished Nigerians who are, General Murtala Ramat Mohammed (posthumously), President Olusegun Obasanjo, and Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari in recognition of their contributions to Angola’s independence and peace.
“Today, we celebrate 50 years of independence of the Republic of Angola, after long years of anti-colonial struggle and the consolidation of lasting peace throughout the national territory.
“General Murtala Ramat Mohammed, may his soul rest in peace, and President Olusegun Obasanjo received medals from the Class of Honour, while Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari was awarded a medal in the Peace and Development Class,.
“The awards are symbolic recognition and gratitude for their selfless contributions to the process of political emancipation and the achievement of lasting peace in Angola”, he said.
Ambassador Zau paid tribute to Nigeria’s historic support dating back to the 1960s, when Nigeria offered financial and material assistance to Angola’s liberation movement and later granted 20 university scholarships to Angolan students after independence.
He also recognised several Nigerian military officers and diplomats who played key roles in Angola’s peacekeeping and nation-building efforts, including General Ike Nwachukwu, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, Maj. Gen. Chris Garuba, and others, noting their legacy of “honour and solidarity.”
The Ambassador underscored that Angola and Nigeria now face a “new common struggle” — the pursuit of economic stability and sustainable development. He highlighted the successful 5th Session of the Angola–Nigeria Joint Commission held in Luanda in September, after a 24-year hiatus, which renewed cooperation across 29 bilateral agreements and MoUs.
“Since the beginning of the Angolan liberation struggle, Nigeria has always been present, showing its genuine vocation as a Pan-African brotherhood.
“We also want to intensively relaunch our economic and commercial cooperation, based on increasing trade between Luanda and Lagos.
“We are very committed to maintaining cooperation and security in the Gulf of Guinea — an important economic platform rich in mineral resources and hydrocarbons”, Zau noted.
Ambassador Zau reaffirmed Angola’s dedication to deepening its partnership with Nigeria through trade, investment, and cultural exchange, describing the two countries as “bound by history, solidarity, and a shared vision for Africa’s progress.”
In his address, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar restated Nigeria’s strong bilateral ties with the Republic of Angola, and described the relationship as a “testament to Africa’s shared history of liberation, friendship, and progress.”
Tuggar who was represented by Head Southern African Affairs Division, Ambassador Nonyelum Afoekelu, extended warm congratulations to the Government and people of Angola, commending their resilience and progress since gaining independence.
Tuggar said: “We rejoice with the good people of Angola on this special occasion of their independence. Since the end of colonial control, Nigeria has remained a brotherly and friendly country to Angola.
“Nigeria’s support for the liberation of Angola from Portuguese rule, and its recognition of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola as the legitimate representative of the Angolan people, was not in vain.”
The Minister who stated that Nigeria and Angola share 49 years of diplomatic relations, noted that both nations have maintained “warm, respectful and mutually beneficial ties” since Nigeria opened its mission in Luanda in 1976.
“It is heartwarming to note that Angola’s 50th independence anniversary coincides with the 49th anniversary of our diplomatic mission. Our relations have grown over the years through cooperation, mutual respect and shared commitment to African unity”, he said.
Tuggar also recalled the successful resuscitation of the Nigeria–Angola Joint Commission in September 2020, which is the first in 24 years, as a major step in strengthening bilateral cooperation.
According to him, the session produced 29 new Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) across areas such as economic development, cultural exchange, and the fight against narcotics trafficking.
Tuggar praised Angola’s continued engagement with Nigeria, especially in the areas of trade and investment, noting that Nigerian businesses such as First Bank are expanding their presence in Angola.
Ambassador Tuggar reaffirming Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to strengthening political, economic, and cultural relations between the two nations, saying the partnership “stands as a symbol of African solidarity and a shared vision for prosperity.”
Present at the event were former Minister of Foreign Affairs, General Ike Nwachukwu, Major General Chris Garuba (Rtd.), Chairman NDLEA, Lt. Gen. Buba Marwa, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, Minister of Information, Governor of Bayelsa state among others.
The Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses has announced that members can now decide whether to accept or donate the four main components of blood based on their personal conscience.
The organisation made this known in a statement issued by its World Headquarters in Warwick, New York and made available on its website on Friday.
According to the statement, “the decision to accept red cells, white cells, plasma or platelets from another person’s blood is a matter of personal conscience.”
Jehovah’s Witnesses announce adjustment to blood transfusion policy
It added that “each Witness must decide whether or not to donate blood for the clearly expressed purpose of providing components or fractions for use by another person.”
However, the organisation said its position on whole-blood transfusion had not changed.
“The long-standing refusal of whole-blood transfusions on religious grounds, a core teaching based on the command to ‘abstain from blood’ (Acts 15:20), is unchanged,” the statement said.
International spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses at the organisation’s World Headquarters, Paul Gillies, said, “Blood remains sacred to Jehovah’s Witnesses, who continue to regard life and blood as precious gifts from God.
“We recognise that medical decisions involving blood components are a matter of conscience between each Witness and their God, Jehovah.”
The organisation said the adjustment “follows earlier updates regarding blood fractions and the use of one’s own blood during medical procedures.”
It added, “Since the Bible does not comment on such decisions, they are a matter of individual conscience. That same reasoning has now been extended to the four main components of blood.”
On medical care, the statement said, “Jehovah’s Witnesses love life and want the best available medical care. They do not practise faith healing, and they seek out doctors who can provide effective treatment in accord with their wishes, values and beliefs.”
Gillies said local congregations would not interfere in members’ personal decisions.
“Congregations do not involve themselves in personal decisions that rest with the individual conscience. We will continue to respect and support the personal decisions of our fellow believers.
“We are grateful, too, for the many skilled and compassionate physicians who provide quality medical care that respects our personal wishes regarding blood,” he said.
The organisation said Jehovah’s Witnesses number “over nine million worldwide, in congregations across more than 200 lands.”
Recall that the religious group had clarified its position on the use of a member’s own blood during surgery and other medical procedures.
The clarification allowed individual Witnesses to decide whether their blood could be removed, stored and returned to them during medical treatment, while the organisation maintained its position against receiving blood from another person.
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The Nigerian Army has dismissed as fake and unverified a purported intelligence alert warning of planned Boko Haram and ISWAP attacks on schools, churches, mosques, NYSC orientation camps and other public institutions across the country.
Anele said the Army was aware of the circulation and had heightened vigilance across its formations and commands to prevent attacks on vulnerable facilities.
She described the purported intelligence as speculation and urged the public not to treat the document as an official Army security alert.
The response followed the circulation of a document purportedly signed by one A.M. Sodiq, which claimed that Boko Haram and ISWAP were planning coordinated attacks across several parts of the country.
The document listed churches, schools, NYSC orientation camps and other vulnerable locations as possible targets and alleged that suspected ISWAP operatives had begun surveillance of selected locations.
It further claimed that the alleged attacks could coincide with the resumption of the 2026/2027 academic session.
However, the Army disowned the document, maintaining that it did not originate from the institution.
The Army assured Nigerians that security formations remained on heightened alert and were taking necessary measures to protect schools, places of worship and other vulnerable public facilities.
MINNA, Niger State — An engine oil seller in Minna, the Niger State capital, has reportedly sustained serious injuries after allegedly being shot during a police operation to disperse protesters.
The victim, identified as Ibrahim Mohammed Dada, was reportedly standing outside his shop at Tunga Market when he was struck by a bullet.
Ibrahim’s brother, Yakubu Dada Mohammed, said the victim was not part of the protest and was attending to customers at his engine oil stall when the incident occurred.
According to him, Ibrahim was simply trying to earn a living and support his family when a police officer allegedly fired a shot that hit him in the head and severely injured his face.
«“He was not among those protesting. He was standing in front of his shop selling engine oil when one of the police officers fired a bullet that struck his head and badly injured his face,” Yakubu said.»
Ibrahim is currently receiving treatment at Minna General Hospital, where his condition was reportedly described as critical.
The incident occurred amid protests in Minna over the reported deaths of 37 miners who were allegedly in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Reports indicate that 65 miners were arrested on September 15 and 16, with 37 subsequently reported dead while in security custody.
The protests, which began on Thursday, continued into Friday as security personnel moved to disperse demonstrators. Security forces were reportedly accused of using tear gas and live ammunition during the operation.
However, the circumstances surrounding Ibrahim’s shooting have not been independently established.
The Niger State Police Command spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, appealed for calm and said the incident would be investigated.
The case has since heightened concerns over the conduct of security personnel during the ongoing protests.
Jehovah’s Witnesses announce fresh adjustment to blood transfusion policy
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