Saint Lucia is making final preparations to welcome Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for an official state visit from June 28 to July 4.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, Janelle Modeste-Stephen, outlined the weeklong itinerary, which begins Monday, July 1, with a special joint sitting of the House of Assembly and the Senate.
The ceremonial session will take place at Sandals Grande, where both President Tinubu and Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre are expected to deliver addresses, along with remarks from the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House.
Following this, OECS Heads of Government will participate in a high-level luncheon alongside President Tinubu, aimed at deepening economic and diplomatic cooperation with Nigeria.
On Monday evening, the president will be officially welcomed at a government-hosted reception at Government House, where he will address the gathering alongside Saint Lucia’s Governor General.
The following day, President Tinubu is scheduled to visit the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, where he will meet with students and staff, joined by Saint Lucia’s Minister of Education.
Later that evening, the Prime Minister will host a cocktail reception at his official residence. This event will offer members of Saint Lucia’s Nigerian community an opportunity to interact with President Tinubu and his delegation in a more informal setting.
On July 2 and 3, President Tinubu will spend private time with his delegation before his departure from George F. L. Charles Airport, with a subsequent transfer through Hewanorra International Airport.
Modeste-Stephen acknowledged that some disruptions are expected during the visit, particularly to road traffic.
Regarding airport operations, SLASPA and the Ministry of External Affairs have announced temporary closures at both of the island’s airports on June 28 due to security and logistical requirements. “Given the limited capacity of our airports, this is a necessary measure. The closures will only last an hour and may cause minor delays. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience,” she explained.
Photo credit: BusinessDay Nigeria.
