JUST IN: South Korean President Yeol invites Tinubu on state visit

…As US, UK, Saudi Arabia pledge support

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, on Monday, extended an invitation to his Nigerian counterpart, Bola Tinubu, to visit the Asian country soon as a way to boost relations between the two countries.

This was as the Ambassadors and High Commissioners of the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia to Nigeria pledged their countries’ support for the new administration.

In a statement from the President’s office signed by Tunde Rahman, Yeol’s message was conveyed b the South Korean delegation at a post-inaugural lunch at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, on Monday afternoon.

The lunch was held shortly after Tinubu took the oath of office as Nigeria’s 16th President.

The statement is titled “UK, US, Saudi Arabia, others in bilateral meetings with President Tinubu, pledge support, solidarity.”

It read in part “The South Korean delegation had bilateral discussions with Tinubu.

“While delivering a letter of invitation from South Korean, President Yoon Suk Yeol for Tinubu to visit that country soon, the delegation also sought to increase relations between the two countries.”

In letters presented to the president, the special envoys and heads of missions of various countries formally presented their goodwill messages and pledged support and solidarity to President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa.

Among the countries are the United Kingdom, United States, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Brazil, South Korea, Israel, Cape Verde, Somalia and Nicaragua.

While congratulating President Tinubu, the new UK High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, presented letters from British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, King Charles and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.

The US delegation led by Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Marcia L. Fudge, paid a courtesy call on President Tinubu and had a brief bilateral discussion with him.

The Saudi Arabian delegation also delivered a goodwill message from the Saudi Royal House to the Nigerian president.

A special envoy of the Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida equally paid a call on President Tinubu and extended a hand of support and fellowship.

In the same vein, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a delegation which met with Tinubu and expressed willingness to work with the country in the area of fintech.

Others who met with President Tinubu and pledged cooperation with Nigeria included delegations from Brazil, Somalia, Cape Verde and Nicaragua.