Abuja — President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will leave Abuja for Libreville this evening, where he is expected to participate in the 50th Independence anniversary celebrations of Gabon, on the invitation of President Ali Bongo Ondimba.

At 8.00pm Monday August 16 evening, President Jonathan will join other invited African Heads of State and Government at a gala dinner to be hosted by President Bongo at the Presidential Villa in Libreville, as part of activities lined up for the celebrations.

The following morning, Tuesday, President Jonathan will attend the 50th Independence anniversary ceremony billed for the Parade Ground in Libreville. It will be characterized mainly by military parades, award presentations and callisthenic displays.

Thereafter, the President will address the Nigerian community in Gabon by 2pm at the residence of the Nigerian Ambassador, in Libreville.

Nigeria has over 150, 000 of its citizens, which is about one-tenth of Gabon's 1.7m population, living in that country. They are mostly Igbo, Ilaje and Ijaw traders who dominate Gabon's commerce, and its fishing industry.

According to Ambassador Samuel Aiyedona, Nigeria's envoy to Gabon, the entrepreneurship of Ijaw and Ilaje fishermen alone contributes over 600,000 tons of fish to Gabon 's fishing industry annually.

President Jonathan will return to the country on Tuesday evening.