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Nigeria President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Cotonou, the capital city of Benin Republic as guest of honour at the 63rd Independence anniversary of the West African nation.
President Tinubu was received at Cardinal Bernadin Gantin Gadjehoun international airport Cotonou by Benin Republic’s Senior Coordinating Minister, Bio Tchane, and that of Foreign Affairs, Olusegun Adjadi at 09:22 GMT.
General excitement.
Already, Cotonou, the capital city is wearing a new look, with the country’s flag displayed round the city and security personnel patrolling.
The event takes place on Tuesday, at the Amazone square, Cotonou.
At the end of the Independence Day celebration, President Talon and his guest will have lunch at the presidential palace, cotonou before President Tinubu moves to the airport to meet with a selected group of Nigerians residing in Benin Republic and later on depart for Nigeria.
The President, who is also the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States, was invited by President Patrice Talon of the Republic of Benin.
The President is accompanied on the one-day visit by six governors, the President spokesman, Dele Alake said in a statement early Tuesday.
The governors are Dapo Abiodun (Ogun); Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos); Seyi Makinde (Oyo); AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq (Kwara); Nasir Idris (Kebbi), and Mohammed Bago (Niger).
“President Tinubu had first met with Talon on the sidelines of the summit on New Global Financing Pact in Paris, France, later at the 63rd Ordinary session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS held in Guinea-Bissau and more recently at the State House, Abuja along with leaders of three other West African nations, where the Benin Republic President invited him for the anniversary.
“President Tinubu had drawn the attention of the Beninese leader to the need to review and strengthen cultural, trade and economic relations between their two countries, highlighting joint border patrols by the Customs and harmonizing regulations on the frontlines,” the statement added.