Hundreds of Nigerians braved rain to give a rousing and colourful welcome to mauritania's President Moktar Ould Daddah, when he arrived in the capital, Lagos, on Monday (15 July). The crowd, mainly comprised of market women, waved national flags and carried banners proclaiming solidarity between Nigeria and Mauritania.

The Nigerian leader, General Yakubu Gowon, was at the airport to greet President Ould Daddah and his French-born wife, Marien. Also present were members of the Supreme Military Council, diplomats and local chiefs. The President's arrival was heralded by a 21-gun salute, and after the official greetings, he inspected a guard of honour, mounted by a detachment of the Nigerian Army. There were also traditional displays by the Nigerian Cultural Group.

Later, General Gowon hosted a State reception for President Ould Daddah and his party. They left Lagos on Tuesday (16 July) for Port Harcourt, where they spent the day.

SYNOPSIS: It was raining heavily in Lagos on Monday as President Moktar Ould Daddah's aircraft taxied in....at the beginning of a two-day State visit to Nigeria.

President Ould Daddah and his French-born wife, Marien, were greeted at the airport by Nigeria's leader, General Yakubu Gowon, his wife, members of the Supreme Military Council, diplomats and local chiefs.

Hundreds of Nigerians, mainly market women, also braved the rain to give the Presidential party a rousing and colourful welcome. At one stage it was too rousing, and police had to control the crowd's enthusiasm.

A guard of honour was mounted by a detachment of the Nigerian Army and it was inspected by the President, who took shelter under an army umbrella. Despite the rain, there were also traditional displays by the Nigerian Cultural Group and a twenty-one gun salute.

Later, General Gowon hosted a State reception in honour of President Ould Daddah and his party. They left Lagos on Tuesday for a one-day visit to Port Harcourt, the capital of Nigeria's Rivers State.