President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, appreciated the City of Lisbon for accommodating Nigerians as well as those fleeing the war in Ukraine.
President Buhari, who is on a four-day state visit to Lisbon, Portugal, spoke when he met with Fernando Medina, Mayor of Lisbon, and City Council Members.
According to a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the President also used the occasion to congratulate him and his party on their electoral victory and his emergence as the Mayor of Lisbon.
The Nigerian leader thanked Fernando Medina for graciously receiving the Nigerian delegation in the ‘beautiful and historic coastal city of Lisbon,’ commending the excellent manner the city is administered, as a prime global tourist destination.
‘‘The city of Lisbon shares a number of similarities with some Nigerian cities such as Lagos, the former capital of Nigeria, whose name was given by the Portuguese explorer Rui de Sequeira, who visited in 1472, naming the area around the city, Lago de Curamo, which means Lake of Curamo.
‘‘Both cities are rich in history and are also commercial nerve centres that host multinational corporations, industries, and major seaports. We are optimistic that these shared features can be harnessed to promote increased trade and people-to-people contact for the benefit of our two countries.
‘‘Nigeria, like Portugal, has many unique, historic, and cultural assets, as well as a developing hospitality industry, which both countries can exploit to promote tourism.
‘‘We are also keen to establish a direct air link between our two countries to further stimulate tourism, people-to-people contact and social, sporting and cultural relations,’’ he said.
