President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is set to embark on a six day working tour to Namibia, Rome, Holland, Namibia and Italy.
President Jonathan 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.
This was made known by the President’s spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, on Wednesday, March 19, 2014.
The state visit will kick off on Thursday, March 20, 2014 as the President, accompanied by the First lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, will leave Abuja for Windhoek 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.
President Jonathan will also attend the celebration of Namibia’s 24th Independence Anniversary as a special guest of honour on Friday, March 21.
The President will then depart for Rome and the Vatican for talks on Saturday, March 22, 2014 with Pope Francis and Monsignor Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State.
President Jonathan 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, March 24.
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.
President Jonathan will leave the Netherlands for Abuja at the conclusion of the Nuclear Security Summit on Tuesday, March 25.
