On Saturday, the baton was presented in the banquet hall of the State House.

At the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, Habu Gumel, President of Commonwealth Games Nigeria, received the baton and passed it to Sunday Dare, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, who presented it to the president.

Mr. Buhari, who was represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, expressed his delight at the Queen’s Baton relay’s arrival in Nigeria and reminded the Commonwealth of its deep brotherhood ties.

“This is a much-loved tradition which precedes every commonwealth game; a baton carrying Her Majesty’s message of goodwill to the Commonwealth goes on a 90,000 mile, 72 country journey to end at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

“As the relay goes from one Commonwealth member country to another, in its journey across several continents, the two billion-strong population of the Commonwealth are reminded of the strong bonds of brotherhood and friendship that bind us, across these continents, nations, races, tongues, and faiths.

“This joyful event will end at this time in Birmingham, the city that will host the games in 2022.

“Nigerian athletes will join their brothers and sisters at the games, as we have done at several occasions of the games since we first attended in 1950, when Joshua Majekodumi won our first medal, in the high jump event;

”Since then, our athletes have won no less than 236 medals at the games! We are set to do much better in Birmingham,’’ he said.

Mr. Buhari praised the relay team for their enthusiasm and commitment to the tour covering thousands-mile, as well as the organizing committees for their efforts in ensuring the relay event ran well.

The president also praised the athletes, who will provide millions with excitement and thrills at the sport and culture event.

Mr. Dare had earlier called the occasion as another significant milestone for the Commonwealth Games Federation, one that symbolized peace, harmony, and love among the Commonwealth members.

He expressed his delight at being associated with the historic event of hosting the Queen’s Baton relay as the first African country to do so.

According to the minister, it was akin to the Olympic torch relay.

Mr. Gumel, for his part, stated that the baton, which is currently on tour in Africa, was inaugurated earlier this month from Buckingham Palace by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth 11, Patron of the Commonwealth Games Federation.

He stated that the baton would return to the United Kingdom on July 28, 2022, for the games’ opening ceremony.