London – President Goodluck Jonathan arrived in London on Wednesday to attend the International Conference on Somalia scheduled for Thursday.

Jonathan, accompanied by the First Lady Dame Patience, was received on arrival at the Heathrow Airport by Mr Gbenga Ashiru, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Dalhatu Tafida, the Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK, officials of the Nigerian High Commission and their spouses.

During the visit, the president will hold bilateral talks with the British Prime Minister, Mr David Cameron.

He will also meet with the Prince of Wales at Lancaster House on the sidelines of the conference.

Jonathan will on Thursday meet with members of the Nigerian community before departing for home on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Britain is providing 150,000 pounds sterling (about N37 million) through the UN to help create a maritime security co-ordination office in a stable part of Somalia to co-ordinate action on the ground against pirates.

Foreign Secretary William Hague, who announced this on Tuesday night, said Britain would also fund a new 550,000 pounds sterling (about N135.98 million) intelligence centre in the Seychelles to co-ordinate action against Somali pirates.

The operation will “allow the international community to target the kingpins of piracy and ensure piracy does not pay,” Hague said.

“For too long, the international community has focused its efforts on the young desperate men who are sent out to sea, without seeking to hold to account those who finance and enable huge pirate operations,” he added.

British International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell said he expected the conference to set up a “stability fund” to create jobs, agree local peace deals and establish police, courts and basic services.

“There will also be UK aid packages to help 150,000 Somali refugees in Kenya and 100,000 in Ethiopia,’’ he added. (NAN)