French Prime Minister Francois FILLON To Visit Nigeria

French Prime Minister, Mr Francois FILLON, will pay an official visit to Nigeria on May 22 – 23, 2009, first visit by a French Prime Minister to Nigeria since her independence. The visit comes less than a year after the Nigerian and French presidents agreed upon a strategic partnership during the Nigerian president's official visit to France, in June 2008. The French Prime Minister will be leading a delegation of Cabinet Ministers, Members of the Parliament and businessmen.

In Abuja, French Prime Minister FILLON will meet with H.E. Mr Umaru YAR'ADUA, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Mr FILLON, who will be accompanied by four Cabinet Ministers, will have a working session with H.E. Mr Goodluck JONATHAN, Vice president, and members of the Nigerian cabinet. Following their meeting, several co-operation agreements will be signed in their presence.

Under the auspices of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Prime Minister FILLON will deliver a public lecture on “France and Nigeria in a global world”, at the ECOWAS Auditorium, on May 22, 2009, at 5pm,

Prime Minister FILLON will hold a press conference at the Hilton Hotel (Zuma room, ground floor), on May 22, 2009, at 6:30pm.

Prime Minister FILLON and his delegation will be in Port Harcourt on May 23, 2009, where he is expected to meet with Rivers State Governor, H.E. Mr Rotimi AMAECHI, and visit several sites operated by French companies.

Mr Francois FILLON's visit to Cameroon (May 20 – 21, 2009), and Nigeria (May 22 – 23, 2009) is his first official visit to sub-Saharan Africa since becoming Prime Minister in the administration of President Nicolas SARKOZY in 2007.

For more information, please contact Emmanuel Gagniarre at [email protected] e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or 0803 314 90 69