The Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications, and Strategy, Dele Alake, has revealed that President Bola Tinubu would, on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, honour an invitation to attend the 63rd independence anniversary of the Republic of Benin.

In a statement, Alake signed on Monday titled, ‘President Tinubu to honour invitation to grace 63rd anniversary of Republic of Benin.’, he noted that Tinubu would be the Special Guest of President Patrice Talon at the ceremony.

The President, who is also the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States, would be accompanied on the one-day visit by six governors, who were invited by President Talon, and his personal aides.

The six states governors are Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq (Kwara), Nasir Idris (Kebbi) and Mohammed Bago (Niger).

Alake said in the statement that; “President Tinubu had first met with Talon on the sidelines of the summit on New Global Financing Pact in Paris, France, later at the 63rd Ordinary session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS held in Guinea-Bissau and more recently at the State House, Abuja, along with leaders of three other West African nations, where the Benin Republic President invited him for the anniversary,”

Access24 reports that President Tinubu had drawn the attention of the Beninese leader to the need to review and strengthen cultural, trade and economic relations between the two countries, highlighting joint border patrols by the Customs and harmonising regulations on the frontlines.

Benin Republic is Tinubu’s fifth foreign destination and third in Africa since the start of his administration on May 29, 2023.