Visit to Japan by General Olusegun Obasanjo (rtd), President-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

April 9, 1999

1. General Olusegun Obasanjo (rtd), President-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, accompanied by a suite, will visit Japan from April 14 (Wed.) to 15 (Thu.).

2. During his stay in Japan, Mr. Obasanjo will meet with Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahiko Koumura, and others to exchange views on bilateral relations between Japan and Nigeria, and other matters.

3. General Sani Abacha, head of the military government, who had sustained dictatorship in Nigeria since the 1993 coup, died suddenly in June 1998. His successor, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, head of the transitional military government, promoted the transition to a civilian regime, and a presidential election was implemented peacefully on February 27 this year.

4. Mr. Obasanjo, the winner of the election, is scheduled to take office as President on May 29. He is visiting major countries for an exchange of views on the state of Nigeria after the transition to a civilian regime. His visit to Japan is part of this journey.

Related Information (Japan-Nigeria Relations)