President Buhari leaves for France, to meet Macron on security

President Muhammadu Buhari will today depart Abuja for Paris, France, on a four-day official visit to attend the African Finance Summit.

Malam Garba Shehu, the president’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, confirmed this in a statement in Abuja yesterday.

According to him, the summit will focus on reviewing African economy following shocks from Coronavirus pandemic, and getting relief, especially from increased debt burden on countries.

He added that the summit, to be hosted by President Emmanuel Macron, would draw major stakeholders in the global financial institutions and some heads of government, who will collectively discuss external funding and debt treatment for Africa, as well as private sector reforms.

He said that during the visit, President Buhari would meet with the French president to discuss growing security threats in the Sahel and Lake Chad region, political relations and economic ties.

Shehu revealed that the two leaders would also deliberate on climate c hange and partnership in buoying the health sector, particularly in checking the spread of COVID-19 with more research and vaccines.

“Before returning to Nigeria, President Buhari will receive some key players in the oil and gas sector, engineering and telecommunications, European Council and European Union Representative for Foreign and Security Policy and Commission, and members of the Nigerian community,” he said.

He stated that the president would be accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo and Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire.

Others are the National Security Adviser Major-General Babagana Monguno (retd) and Director General of National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ahmed Rufai.

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