The Federal Government of Nigeria has granted temporary asylum to Guinea-Bissau opposition presidential candidate Fernando Dia Da Costa, offering him protection inside the Nigerian Embassy in Bissau amid credible reports of threats to his life.
The decision was formally communicated in a letter dated November 30, 2025, from Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs to the President of the ECOWAS Commission.
Al-Kasim Abdulkadir, Media Aide to the Minister, confirmed the move, stating that granting refuge to Mr Da Costa “falls squarely within Nigeria’s sovereign responsibility and its longstanding commitment to regional peace, stability, and democratic governance.”
He emphasised that the intervention is aimed at de-escalating tensions in Guinea-Bissau, promoting social cohesion, and preventing further instability in the West African sub-region.
“This action is guided solely by the imperatives of peace, human security, and regional stability, in full alignment with ECOWAS principles and Nigeria’s historic role as a stabilising force in West Africa,”
Abdulkadir added the development comes ahead of Guinea-Bissau’s presidential run-off election scheduled for later this month, in which Mr Da Costa is a leading contender.
