Abuja, February 23th, 2026.– The Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Miriam Morales Palmero, held a working meeting with Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, to brief him on the complex situation currently facing the Island following the tightening of coercive measures imposed by the Government of the United States, and to address pending issues on the bilateral agenda.
During the exchange, the Cuban Ambassador provided a detailed explanation of the harsher measures adopted by the current U.S. administration within the framework of the second term of President Donald Trump, which—she emphasized—have intensified in the first months of the year. In particular, she referred to the impact of the recent executive order threatening sanctions against countries that trade oil with Cuba. This measure significantly deepens the country’s energy constraints and affects strategic sectors such as transportation, food production, public health, education, industry, electricity generation, and the normal operation of air services.
The diplomat described these actions as a “silent genocide,” aimed at economically suffocating the Caribbean nation and intimidating a people who, she stressed, have historically distinguished themselves by their commitment to peace, cooperation, and international solidarity.
In this context, the Ambassador conveyed the profound gratitude of the Cuban Government and people for Nigeria’s firm support in last October’s vote at the Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas against the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed on Cuba. She also acknowledged Nigeria’s constructive role in the adoption, on February 15, of the declaration of the Unión Africana condemning the U.S. blockade and rejecting Cuba’s inclusion on the list of countries allegedly sponsoring terrorism.
For his part, the Nigerian Foreign Minister recognized the difficult circumstances facing the Greater Antilles and reiterated that Cuba can always count on Nigeria’s support, both at the bilateral level and in multilateral forums, including the Naciones Unidas, the Unión Africana, the Movimiento de Países No Alineados (NAM), and the Grupo de los 77 (G77).
Both parties underscored the historic bonds of friendship and cooperation that have united Cuba and Nigeria since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1974, grounded in mutual respect, South-South solidarity, and shared positions on key issues of the international agenda. The contribution of Cuban cooperation in areas such as health and human resource training was highlighted, as well as the shared willingness to further strengthen economic, political, and cultural ties for the benefit of both peoples.
The meeting reaffirmed the brotherhood between Cuba and Nigeria and the determination to continue deepening a bilateral relationship founded on principles, a common history of struggle, and a shared vision in defense of multilateralism and international law.
Accompanying the Minister was the Director for the Americas at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aisha Dewa, while the Cuban counterpart was accompanied by the Third Secretary of the Embassy, Ana Flavia Gomez Pavot.
(Embassy of Cuba to Nigeria)