Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Kayode Are, says he is optimistic President Bola Tinubu will undertake an official visit to Washington before the end of his tenure, citing growing diplomatic engagement between both countries.
Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Kayode Are, has expressed optimism that President Bola Tinubu will undertake an official visit to Washington before the end of his tenure, saying ongoing diplomatic engagements between Nigeria and the United States provide a strong foundation for such a meeting.
Speaking during an appearance on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Channels Television, Are said relations between President Tinubu and United States President Donald Trump remain cordial, with sustained engagements taking place at different levels.
The ambassador noted that while presidential travel schedules are determined by several strategic considerations, he remains hopeful that a visit to Washington would take place during his tenure as Nigeria’s envoy to the United States.
Are said an official presidential visit would further strengthen the strategic partnership between Nigeria and the United States by deepening political and economic cooperation while creating additional opportunities for trade, investment and security collaboration.
He also reflected on Nigeria’s three-year absence of a substantive ambassador in Washington, describing the period as one that affected diplomatic engagement and the operations of the Nigerian Mission in the United States.
The ambassador said he would be delighted to receive President Tinubu in Washington should the visit materialise during his tenure.
He also urged Nigerians travelling to the United States to comply with the conditions of their visas, stressing that responsible conduct and sustained diplomatic engagement would help strengthen bilateral relations between both countries.
While no official date has been announced for a presidential visit, Ambassador Are maintained that continued high-level engagement between Nigeria and the United States provides a solid basis for such a meeting before the end of President Tinubu’s tenure.