Nigeria has asked the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to provide additional security for Mr. Fernando Dia Da Costa, a presidential candidate in the November 2025 Guinea-Bissau elections, after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved his protection within the Nigerian Embassy in Bissau.

In a letter dated November 30, 2025, and addressed to ECOWAS Commission President Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, said the decision followed “imminent threats” to Da Costa’s life.

Tuggar said President Tinubu had “graciously approved” that Da Costa be accommodated and protected on the premises of the Nigerian Embassy — a move he described as a proactive step to safeguard democratic aspirations and political stability in Guinea-Bissau.

“The decision to accommodate Mr. Da Costa within the Nigerian premises underscores our firm commitment to safeguarding the democratic aspirations and the sovereign will of the good people of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau,” the letter stated.

Nigeria also requested that the ECOWAS Stabilization Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ESSMGB) be mandated to provide security for Da Costa while he remains at the embassy.

The development comes as Guinea-Bissau prepares for tense general elections, with rising concerns over the safety of opposition figures.