Tinubu Administration Takes Proactive Stance, Seeks Regional Mission’s Assistance to Shield Candidate Amid Rising Threats
Nigeria has officially called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to bolster security for Fernando Dia Da Costa—a key opposition figure in Guinea-Bissau’s upcoming November 2025 presidential election—who is currently under protection within the Nigerian Embassy in Bissau.
The urgent request follows confirmed threats to Da Costa’s safety and was personally authorized by Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a formal letter to ECOWAS Commission President H.E. Omar Alieu Touray, Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar outlined the grave situation, framing Nigeria’s sheltering of the candidate as a “proactive measure” essential to both preserving his life and defending democratic integrity in the region.
Tuggar stressed that offering diplomatic sanctuary reflects Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to upholding the sovereign will of Guinea-Bissau’s citizens. He further urged ECOWAS to direct the ECOWAS Stabilization Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ESSMGB) to provide dedicated security around the embassy compound where Da Costa is housed.
This decisive move signals Nigeria’s active role as a regional stabilizer, ready to collaborate with ECOWAS in fostering peace, security, and democratic resilience across West Africa.
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