As Terrorism Plagues Both Countries, Kenyan President Visits Nigeria

photo - Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta Arrives on a 3-Day State Visit to Nigeria

President Goodluck Jonathan, Dame Patience Jonathan welcome Kenya’s leader Uhuru Kenyatta to Nigeria

President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta has arrived in Nigeria on a three-day State visit that will also see him attend the World Economic Forum on Africa scheduled to take place in Abuja on May 7-9.

President Kenyatta is accompanied by the First Lady Margaret Kenyatta and a group of over 100 businessmen. The delegation arrived at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Sunday evening. The foreign guests were received by senior Nigerian government officials led by the Abuja Federal Capital Territory Minister Alhaji Bala Muhammed, as well as Kenya’s High Commissioner to Nigeria Tom Amolo. Minister Mohammed presented Kenyatta with the symbolical key to the city, thus pronouncing him the Honorary Citizen of Abuja.

Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan and President Kenyatta are to discuss economic and business ties between the two countries, as well as the security challenges their governments are currently facing. The visit is also aimed at strengthening previous agreements and interactions between the two countries.

With a population of over 170 million people, Nigeria is a large potential market for Kenyan products.

The tour will also see President Kenyatta attend the World Economic Forum on Africa themed Forging Inclusive Growth, Creating Jobs to be held in Abuja from May 7 to 9.

Kenyatta’s visit follows a similar trip made by President Jonathan and Dame Patience in September 2013.

Tough times

The visit comes at difficult times both for the host Nigeria and the visiting party Kenya. Only in the past two months, Nigeria has witnessed two explosions in Nyanya suburb of Abuja which claimed dozens of lives, while over 200 girls abducted by Boko Haram insurgents still remain in captivity.

In Kenya, at least three people died and over 60 sustained injuries as twin explosions rocked its capital, Nairobi, on Sunday. Since 2011, when Kenyan troops were sent to neighbouring Somalia to assist in fighting the Islamic insurgents al-Shabaab, Kenya has been suffering from terrorist attacks, as the rebels vowed to avenge the act. In September, 67 people were killed by al-Shabaab terrorists in Westgate Mall, Nairobi.

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