President Goodluck Jonathan has arrived Washington DC to participate in a three-day US-Africa Leaders Summit.

He was received by a group of Nigerians in Washington before checking into his hotel.

The presidential jet touched the grounds at about 8 o’clock in the morning in Washington. There was no airport ceremony but at the President’s hotel, a group of Nigerians were already waiting to give him a rousing reception.

The President promised the Nigerians who were singing and chanting the National Anthem to welcome him that he would do his best to take the nation to the next level.

He told them that he was doing everything possible to make Nigeria a comfortable place to live in.

Speaking to Channels Television on the President’s itinerary, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, dispelled the rumours making the rounds that the President has been indisposed.

He also debunked reports that Nigerians on the trip would be tested for Ebola virus, describing it as untrue.

Reports that Jonathan would be tested for Ebola had surfaced after a Reuters report quoting US President Barack Obama as saying on Friday that some of the visiting African leaders would be tested for Ebola so as to protect the US from the outbreak of the disease.

Obama had said: “Folks who are from these countries that have even a marginal risk, or an infinitesimal risk of having been exposed in some fashion, we’re making sure we’re doing screening.”

Two African leaders have voluntarily withdrawn from the meeting because of the outbreak of the Ebola disease in their countries. The leaders are the presidents of Liberia and Sierra Leone, Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Ernest Bai Koroma, respectively.

During the summit, President Jonathan will join President Obama and about 50 other participating African leaders for discussions that are expected to lead to greater progress in key areas such as expanding trade and investment ties, promoting inclusive sustainable development and expanding cooperation on peace and security.

The Summit, which is the first of its kind between an American President and African heads of state and government, is expected to greatly strengthen ties between the United States, Nigeria and other African countries.

In addition to three special sessions on “Investing in Africa’s Future”, “Peace and Regional Stability” and “Governing the Next Generation”, the summit will also feature side-events such as the United States-Africa Business Forum which has the objectives of boosting efforts to strengthen trade and financial ties between the United States and Africa, creating partnerships that will accelerate job creation, and encouraging even more American investments in Nigeria and other African countries.

President Jonathan is also scheduled to hold meetings in Washington with key United States political, security and business leaders on the sidelines of the summit to discuss the further expansion of bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in other areas including the war against terrorism.

He will return home at the conclusion of the summit on Wednesday.

•Photo shows President Jonathan.

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