Successful
meetings
and
support
from
government
ministers
saw
the
advance
party
conduct
a
television
interview
on
Nigerian
TV
today.
This
has
already
provided
postive
feedback
and
has
hopefully
set
the
scene
for
the
rest
of
the
expedition.
The
advance
party
secured
a
meeting
with
Deputy
Inspector
General
Mike
Okiro,
it
was
good
for
Viv
and
Steve
to
see
him
again
after
seeing
him
3
years
earlier
when
he
was
commissioner
of
Police
in
Lagos.
He
gave
the
team
a
warm
welcome
and
expressed
his
delight
at
the
forthcoming
expedition.
He
offered
the
support
of
the
Nigerian
Police
to
provide
security
for
the
expedition.
The
team
presented
him
with
a
large
bronze
commemorative
coin
that
was
recently
struck
by
the
Royal
Mint
in
the
UK.This
commemorative
coin
was
designed
by
expedition
team
members
and
produced
in
limited
numbers
especially
for
the
Richard
Lander
Expedition.
A
unique
silver
version
will
be
presented
by
Simon
Hendra
to
the
Emir
of
Bussa.
Simon,
born
in
Truro
which
is
the
birthplace
of
Richard
Lander,
has
put
in
considerable
efforts
in
preparation
for
the
expedition.
Immediately
following
this
interview
the
team
quickly
progressed
to
the
Federal
Ministry
of
Culture
and
Tourism.
A
formal
meeting
with
Ambassador
Frank
Nchita
Ogbuewu
was
then
held
and
this
was
covered
by
both
Tv
and
Radio
journalists.
The
importance
of
promoting
tourism
within
Nigeria
was
highlighted
by
the
Honourable
Minister
and
agreed
by
the
Expedition
team
members.
Steve
Dunstone
was
honoured
with
signing
the
Minister's
guest
book
on
behalf
of
the
team.
In
return
Steve
presented
a
portait
of
Richard
Lander
signed
by
team
members.
Howard
Ward,
MD
of
freight
forwarders
Metropol,
has
temporarily
joined
the
team.
Howard's
contacts
within
Nigeria
have
helped
a
great
deal
with
the
expedition
preparations
this
week.
