CONGO-KINSHASA'S PRESIDENT JOSEPH MOBUTU, THE FIRST HEAD OF STATE TO VISIT NIGERIA SINCE THE END OF THE CIVIL WAR, WAS GUEST OF HONOUR AT A STATE BANQUET GIVEN BY THE NIGERIAN LEADER, MAJOR-GENERAL YAKUBU GOWON, IN LAGOS ON TUESDAY.

JUST BEFORE THE DINNER, PRESIDENT MOBUTU PRESENTED GENERAL GOWON WITH A CHEQUE FOR ABOUT GBP22,000 STERLING (ABOUT 52,800 DOLLARS) TO AID RELIEF WORK IN THE FORMER SECESSIONIST TERRITORY IN EASTERN NIGERIA. HE ALSO OFFERED THE USE OF CONGOLESE AIRCRAFT FOR TRANSPORTING RELIEF SUPPLIES.

DURING THE BANQUET, GENERAL GOWON DECLARED THAT, DESPITE "DESTRUCTIVE CRITICISM", NIGERIA WAS MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO SPEED RELIEF WORK IN THE WAR-RAVAGED AREAS.

BEFORE LEAVING NIGERIA ON THURSDAY, PRESIDENT MOBUTU PROMISED THAT HE WOULD DISCUSS WITH OTHER AFRICAN LEADERS NIGERIA'S RELATIONS WITH COUNTRIES THAT HAD RECOGNISED THE FORMER SECESSIONIST STATE OF BIAFRA.

AT THE END OF HIS THREE-DAY VISIT, PRESIDENT MOBUTU WAS FLYING ON TO YAOUNDE CAMEROUN, FOR THE SUMMIT CONFERENCE OF THE AFRO-MALAGASY COMMON ORGANISATION.