President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived in Madrid on a state visit at the invitation of Spain’s President Pedro Sanchez.
The presidential aircraft, which left Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja at about 3:30 p.m., carrying the president and members of his entourage, landed at Torrejon Airbase, Madrid, at 10:p.m.
Mr Buhari, welcomed by top Spanish officials and the leadership of the Nigerian embassy in Spain, is officially visiting Spain for the first time since he assumed power in 2015.
While in Madrid, Mr Buhari will also meet with the head of state of the Spanish nation, King Felipe VI.
An earlier statement by Mr Buhari’s media aide Femi Adesina, on Tuesday, disclosed the president would discuss issues of mutual interest to both countries.
This would result in the signing of agreements and memoranda of understanding on a wide range of topics geared towards further enhancing the bilateral relations between the two nations, said the statement.
These include extradition and transfer of convicted persons, mutual legal assistance, cultural matters, cooperation towards fighting crime and enhancing security, etc.
Mr Buhari will also be the special guest at an investment forum jointly organised by the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, the Ministry of Trade, and the Confederation of Employers (CEOE).
The Nigerian leader will speak to the gathering of top members of the Spanish business community and their Nigerian counterparts on the investment opportunities in Nigeria.
They will also discuss ways of expanding the volume of trade as well as further collaborating for the development of the economies of both countries.
Those in the president’s entourage include foreign affairs minister Geoffrey Onyeama, attorney general of the federation, Abubakar Malami, trade minister Adeniyi Adebayo and information minister Lai Mohammed.
The interior minister Rauf Aregbesola, sport minister Sunday Dare and junior health minister Olorunnimbe Mamora, etc., are also among the team.
Mr Buhari is expected back in the country on June 3.
(NAN)
