26 August 2000
Abuja — U.S. President Bill Clinton arrived in Nigeria early Saturday to start a two-day official visit, effectively marking the country's full acceptance back into the fold after years of isolation under military rule.
The plane bearing Clinton, daughter Chelsea and the president's special adviser on Africa, Jesse Jackson, among others, touched down at the sparkling Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja at 0753 GMT.
The white-and-blue Air Force One was then escorted right through the tarmac by a U.S. security van until it came to a halt.
Clinton, dressed in a dark suit, white shirt and a red tie, was then ferried in a limousine to the venue of the airport's reception, 100 metres away, where he was received by host president Olusegun Obasanjo, resplendent in a light brown traditional attire with a matching cap.
A 21-gun salute formally welcomed the U.S. leader to Nigeria.
Clinton then proceeded to inspect a guard of honour before Ibrahim Bunu, the minister in charge of Abuja city, presented him with a key to the city.
Obasanjo later introduced the visitor to the 40 dignitaries, comprising ministers, governors and others.
The president of neighbouring Niger Republic, Mamadou Tandja, who arrived in Nigeria Friday, was among the VIPs at the reception.
After the 15-minute ceremony, Clinton and his host drove 45 km to Aso Rock, Nigeria's presidential palace, to begin bilateral talks.
Both leaders are expected to speak to the press after the meeting, expected to focus on Nigeria's huge external debt, rising oil prices, trade and foreign investment, education, health and African crises, among other issues.
The U.S. leader is expected to address a joint session of Nigeria's bi-cameral national assembly later in the day, the first foreign leader to do so.
Though Nigeria returned to civil rule 15 months ago, after 15 years of oppressive military rule, the visit from the leader of the world's most powerful democracy is seen as a stamp of approval for Obasanjo's civilian government.
Clinton is the second serving American president to visit Nigeria, after Jimmy Carter's visit in 1978.
The visit to Nigeria, coming less than five months to the end of Clinton's tenure, marks the second time the U.S. leader has visited Africa during his presidency.
He first visited the continent in 1998, going to Ghana and five other African countries.
During that trip Clinton overflew Nigeria, in a move symbolising the country's isolation by the international community and a protest against the brutal dictatorship of then military ruler, the late Gen. Sani Abacha.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2000 Panafrican News Agency. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
