President Goodluck Jonathan will on Thursday begin a three nation trip that will keep him outside the country for six days.
According to a statement on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, 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.
His visit to Holland for the Nuclear Security Summit will be the final leg of a six-day working tour which will also take him to Namibia and Italy.
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.