Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have arrived in Nigeria for a 72-hour private visit.
The royal couple landed at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on a British Airways flight, which arrived around 5 am on Friday.
News About Nigeria learned that the flight was delayed due to a sick pilot.
The Duchess of Sussex had flown into Heathrow yesterday to meet up with her husband at the airport’s VIP Windsor Suite.
This marks the first time Harry and Meghan are visiting Nigeria together.
Other travellers were held back as they were escorted off into a waiting blacked-out minibus.
The visit was announced on Thursday by the Director of Sports, Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Air Vice Marshal Abidemi Marquis.
According to Marquis, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will interact with wounded soldiers and their families during their three-day visit.
Prince Harry, the founder of Invictus Games, will spend three days in Nigeria, from May 10 to 13, 2024.
The visit is aimed at supporting the recovery efforts of wounded soldiers.
“We realised that 80% of our soldiers have been involved in this recovery programme, they are getting better. Their outlook on life is positive,” AVM Marquis said.
He added that the visit would help the injured troops in their recovery, “to improve their personal self-esteem and their mental health. Their emotional intelligence has been improved, and also their families see them, as they used to be breadwinners who are capable of continuing living. So this engagement with Invictus is giving us the opportunity for the recovery for our soldiers.”
The couple’s itinerary includes a visit to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, on Friday at noon, after resting at their hotel.
They will also visit Wuse Light Academy, an institution supported by their non-governmental organisation, before meeting with Nigeria’s security chief.
On Saturday, they will attend an exhibition of a novelty match, where the CDS team and the Duke team will engage in a sitting volleyball match at the Armed Forces Officers Mess.
This is aimed at interacting with the wounded and injured soldiers.
A reception is also planned for 1 pm, where they will meet with families of wounded and injured soldiers, families of soldiers and officers killed in action, and service members generally.
On Sunday, the couple will pay a courtesy visit to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and visit a basketball court for the school their NGO is supporting in Lagos, where a basketball exhibition match will be held.
A reception is also expected to be organised for the couple on Sunday before they return to Abuja in preparation for their departure from the country on Monday.
