President Jonathan To Meet Pope Francis,Obama And Attend Nuclear Summit In Netherlands.

The President will leave Abuja on Thursday to 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 the Netherlands on March 24, 2014.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, said President Jonathan’s visit to the Netherlands 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.

“The President, accompanied by the First lady, Dame Patience Jonathan 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,” Mr. Abati said.

He said the president will also attend the celebration of Namibia’s 24th Independence Anniversary as a special guest of honour on Friday; after which he will 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.

“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, Olusegun Aganga, the Minister of Communications and ICT, Mrs. Omobola Johnson and other senior government officials” the spokesperson said.

It added that President Jonathan will leave the Netherlands for Abuja at the conclusion of the Nuclear Security Summit on Tuesday, March 25.