Vice President Kashim Shettima welcomed Crown Princess Victoria Désirée of Sweden to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday afternoon, as part of a three-day official visit aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic relations between Nigeria and Sweden.
The Swedish royal arrived at the Presidential Villa at exactly 2:13 PM and was received by Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, before proceeding to a closed-door meeting with the Vice President.
According to the Swedish Embassy, the visit—which runs from April 7 to 9, 2025—is a reciprocal gesture following Shettima’s trip to Stockholm in October 2024, where he was hosted by the Crown Princess at the Royal Palace.
During her stay, Princess Victoria, heir to the Swedish throne, is expected to hold talks with Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and also meet with the Governor of Lagos State. A key highlight of her agenda is the commissioning of the new Swedish Trade Office in Lagos, an initiative poised to boost commercial and investment ties between both nations.
This visit comes amid increased diplomatic interest from European royals in Nigeria. In May 2024, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visited Nigeria to promote the Invictus Games, while King Charles III and Queen Camilla (then Prince and Duchess) toured the country in November 2018, focusing on peacebuilding and youth development.
Princess Victoria’s presence in Nigeria underscores the growing importance of African European collaboration in areas such as trade, climate action, innovation, and sustainable development.
