Upon arrival in Nigeria at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Blinken was received by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, Foreign Affairs Chief of Protocol and US Embassy Charge d’Affairs among others.

The United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, on Tuesday arrived in Nigeria as part of his week-long tour of Africa’s west coast as he seeks to bolster US-friendly democracies with security deteriorating in the Sahel.

Upon arrival in Nigeria at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Blinken was received by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, Foreign Affairs Chief of Protocol and US Embassy Charge d’Affairs among others.

He thereafter headed to the Presidential Villa (Aso Villa) to see President Bola Tinubu.

SaharaReporters had reported that Blinken on Monday opened a week-long tour of Africa’s west coast as he said that his country is committed to deeper relations with Africa despite global crises.

Al Jazeera quoted Biden as saying, “We are all in when it comes to Africa.”

“Our futures are linked, our prosperity is linked, and African voices increasingly are shaping, animating and leading the global conversation,” Blinken said as he opened talks in Cape Verde.

“The United States is committed to deepening, strengthening and broadening partnerships across Africa,” Blinken said.

SaharaReporters earlier reported that Blinken pledged $45 million in additional financing to help fight conflict and bring stability to Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire and other coastal West Africa.

The region has endured insecurity linked to jihadist insurgencies in recent years.

Blinken said this during a joint press briefing in Abidjan on Tuesday, according to Reuters.

The purpose of the trip is to discuss U.S.-African partnerships over trade, climate, infrastructure, health, security and other issues. It follows a summit in Washington with African leaders in December 2022.