Yar’Adua arrives US

14.12.2007

President Umaru Yar’Adua arrived in Washington DC on Thursday to begin a three -day working visit to the United State.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Yar’Adua is on his second trip to the US within three months.

A NAN correspondent at the Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, near Washington DC, reported that the presidential aircraft landed at about 7:35 p.m (1:30 a.m. Nigerian time) at the base.

The base provides installation security, services and airfield management to support the US President, vice president, other US senior leaders, as well as some visiting world leaders.

President Yar’ Adua was received by Nigeria’s acting Ambassador, Alhaji Usman Baraya, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, African and Nigerian diplomats and senior government officials.

Others at the airport included the National Security Adviser, Abdullahi Mouktar, and Nigeria’s Consuls-General in New York and Atlanta, Ibrahim Auwalu, and Chudi Okafor.

Some Nigerians living in the US were also at the air force base to welcome Yar’Adua. NAN reported that Yar’Adua would hold talks with the George Bush today in the White House.

Issues to be discussed include the lingering Darfur crisis, as well as other global issues. They will also discuss US/Nigeria relations. The president is expected to return to Abuja tomorrow.