Abuja – December 2, 2025
President Bola Tinubu has approved a special security arrangement for Fernando Dia Da Costa, the opposition presidential candidate in Guinea-Bissau, following reported threats to his life after the 23 November 2025 general elections.
The approval was communicated through Yusuf Tuggar, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, in a letter to Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission. The letter confirmed that the Nigerian Embassy in Bissau would host and provide security for Da Costa to ensure his safety.
Tuggar described the move as a proactive measure in response to “imminent threats” against the opposition candidate, underscoring Nigeria’s longstanding commitment to protecting democratic actors and safeguarding the sovereign will of Guinea-Bissau’s people.
He also called on ECOWAS to reinforce the arrangement by directing the ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ESSMGB) to provide additional protection for Da Costa while he remains on Nigerian mission premises.
“Nigeria would appreciate if the ECOWAS mission could ensure his security alongside the measures being provided by our Embassy,” Tuggar stated.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that the protection falls squarely within Nigeria’s sovereign responsibility and was taken in the interest of de-escalating political tensions, promoting social cohesion, and upholding regional peace and democratic governance.
Tuggar assured ECOWAS of Nigeria’s continued support for peace, security, and democratic consolidation in Guinea-Bissau and the wider West African sub-region, reaffirming the country’s historic role as a stabilising force in the region.
