The Nigerian Missions in the United States have opened Condolence Registers in honour of late former President Shehu Shagari.

Shagari died on December 28, 2018, at the age of 93, and the Federal Government of Nigeria declared a three-day mourning period with effect from December 30, 2018.

The condolence registers were opened on Monday, December 31, 2018, at the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington, D.C., and the Consulates-General in New York and Atlanta for members of the public wishing to register their condolences.

The registers would be open till Friday, January 4. Amb. Hassan Gambo, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday that the Embassy had written to the US Department of State to inform the US Government about Shagari’s death.

“The US Department of State will then send the information to the other embassies in the country about the death of the former president,’’ Gambo said.

According to him, ambassadors to the US are also expected to sign the condolence registers on behalf of their Governments.

The Consul-General of Nigeria in New York, Mr Ben Okoyen said that the condolence register was also opened to members of the public.

Okoyen said members of the public have been coming to register their condolences to Nigeria over the loss of its former president.

The condolence register for Shagari would open at the Nigerian Consulate in Atlanta on Wednesday, January 2, to Friday, January 4, from 11:30am to 3:00pm.

The Acting Consul-General of Nigeria in Atlanta, Mr Innocent Iwejuo, announced in a statement.

Shagari was the first democratically elected president of Nigeria. He served as president from October 1, 1979 to December 31, 1983. (NAN)

– Jan. 2, 2019 @ 10:55 GMT |