PREMIER’S TOUR

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29107, 20 January 1960, Page 12

PREMIER’S TOUR

Welcome In Kaduna

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) KADUNA (Northern Nigeria), January 16.

The British Prime Minister (Mr Macmillan) received a colourful welcome when he arrived here by air today from Enugu, on the last stage of his Nigerian tour. Mr Macmillan, accompanied by his wife, Lady Dorothy Macmillan, was greeted at the airport by the Sardauna of Sokoto, the Premier of the Northern Region, a magnificent figure in a green silk robe embroidered with gold, red trousers and shoes, and wearing a tall white turban.

The British Prime Minister is ending his week long tour of Britain’s largest colony by spending the week-end in the predominantly Moslem north, which comprises two-thirds of the vast federation in size and 55 per cent, in population. The reception party included many of the principal emirs—the Sultan of Sokoto, the Emir of Kana in a sumptuous blue robe, and the Emir of Katsina in white. The Regional Governor (Sir Gawain Bell) greeted Mr Macmillan and his wife as they disembarked after a two-hour air journey from Enugu, capital of the eastern region. Considerable crowds lined part of the route from the airport. At one point, a large group of local chiefs, some on horseback, frmed a guard of honour on each side of the road, and musicians played on reed pipes. After driving to Government House, Mr Macmillan was due later to meet the regional Premier and Ministers informally.