ISLAMABAD - The official visit of President Mamnoon Hussain to Nigeria has been postponed.
According to Foreign Office, the visit has been postponed due to pressing commitments of the president at home. "The new dates for the visit will be finalised through diplomatic channels," Foreign Office spokesperson added.
The president at the invitation of his Nigerian counterpart President Goodluck Jonathan was to leave for Nigeria on April 21.
This would be an important visit since it would be the first presidential visit from Pakistan to Nigeria in the last three decades. The visit will provide a good opportunity to exchange views on bilateral, regional and international matters of mutual interest. The two sides would discuss ways and means for further strengthening of relations between the two countries, particularly in the field of economic and trade cooperation.
Nigeria is an important member of D-8, OIC and the UN where the two countries closely collaborate. The trade relations between Pakistan and Nigeria have improved considerably. The total volume of trade between the two countries almost doubled recently from earlier $30.677 million in 2011-2012 to $67.361 million in 2012-2013.