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Nigeria Movement of Solidarity with Cuba (NMSC) has renewed calls for the immediate lifting of the United States’ economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba, describing it as illegal and a violation of international law.

The position was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the NMSC’s 2026 Convention held on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at the Nigeria Labour Congress Conference Hall, Abuja.

The convention drew leading voices from labour, civil society and the legal community. Speakers included former Interior Minister and Honorary President of the movement, Rauf Aregbesola; NLC President Joe Ajaero; President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, Festus Osifo; and former President of the West Africa Bar Association , Femi Fakana, SAN.

Others who addressed the gathering were National Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists , Choke Chude; human rights and pro-democracy lawyer Femi Aborishade; as well as founding members of the 42-year-old movement, Lawson Osageand Salisu Nuhu Mohammed. Solidarity messages were also received from civil society platforms, including the Coalition of Civil Society of Nigeria.

After deliberations, the convention passed a series of resolutions, commending the African Heads of State Summit of February 15, 2026 in Addis Ababa for condemning the U.S. embargo on Cuba, which it said reflected the will of African peoples.

The NMSC described the U.S. blockade in place since 1962 as unlawful and contrary to the United Nations Charter, and called on Washington to remove Cuba from its list of alleged state sponsors of terrorism, insisting the designation was baseless.

The group further urged the United Nations to move beyond resolutions and impose sanctions on the United States for what it termed decades of non-compliance with UN votes demanding an end to the embargo.

In another resolution, the convention demanded the immediate release and return of Nicolas Madurai and his wife, Cilia Flores, citing allegations raised during deliberations. The communiqué also praised U.S. citizens who oppose sanctions on Cuba and encouraged them to sustain their advocacy.

Invoking Pan-African responsibility, the NMSC called on Nigeria, Angola and South Africa to provide Cuba with urgent fuel and humanitarian assistance, recalling Cuba’s role in Africa’s liberation struggles. It also commended Cuba’s global medical outreach during health emergencies such as Ebola and COVID-19.

The convention urged Africans to deepen ties with African Americans, Caribbeans and Latin Americans, particularly Cubans, in line with the ideals of Pan-African leaders like Kwame Nkrumah, Amilcar Cabral, and Nelson Mandela.

The communiqué, signed by Salisu Nuhu Mohammed as Chairperson of the NMSC and dated February 28, 2026, reaffirmed the movement’s solidarity with the Cuban people in their pursuit of dignity, sovereignty and freedom from sanctions.