President Goodluck Jonathan will on Thursday jets out to Namibia, Italy
and Holland for a six days three-nation trip.
In a statement on Wednesday by Presidential Spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati,
the President will join other world leaders, including President Barrack
Obama of the United States, President Francois Hollande of France, Prime
Minister David Cameron of Britain and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany
at the 2014 global Nuclear Security Summit which opens at the Hague in
Holland on Monday, March 24, 2014.
According to the statement, the President, accompanied by his wife,
Patience, will leave Abuja for Windhoek early on Thursday for a two-day
state visit to Namibia in the course of which he will participate in a
business forum aimed at boosting trade and economic relations between
Nigeria and Namibia.
He will also attend the celebration of Namibia’s 24th Independence
Anniversary as a special guest of honour on Friday before departing for
Rome and the Vatican for talks on Saturday with Pope Francis and the
Vatican’s Secretary of State, Monsignor Pietro Parolin.
The statement read, “The President will leave Italy for the Netherlands
after conferring with the Pope and he is scheduled to lead a high-powered
Nigerian delegation to talks on Sunday with the Dutch Prime Minister, Mr.
Mark Rutte and senior officials of the Dutch Government before the opening
of the Nuclear Security Summit on Monday.
“President Jonathan will, later that day, meet with the Chief Executive
Officer and other high-ranking officials of the Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation’s largest joint venture partners, Shell Petroleum
International, which has its headquarters in the Netherlands.
“The President will also witness the signing of an investment agreement
between Nigeria and Dutch textile giants, Vlisco and meet with Nigerians
living in the Netherlands during his visit.
“He will be accompanied by the Minister of Defence, Lt.-Gen. Aliyu Gusau
(rtd.), the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.), the
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Aminu Wali, the Minister of Petroleum
Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, the Minister of Industry, Trade
and Investments, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, the Minister of Communications and
ICT, Mrs. Omobola Johnson and other senior government officials.”
Jonathan is expected to leave the Netherlands for Abuja at the conclusion
of the Nuclear Security Summit on Tuesday.