Buhari is on the move, once again
By Emma Ogbuehi
President Muhammadu Buhari will again depart the shores of Nigeria today, February 15, in his new-found love for the international community.
This time, the President is headed for the European nation of Belgium where he is billed to attend the European Union-African Union Summit in Brussels.
A statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, which was made available to TheNiche said the summit will focus on issues surrounding economic matters, peace and security, climate change and energy transition, among other things.
“President Muhammadu Buhari will depart Abuja, today Tuesday, to join European and other African leaders as well as heads of multilateral organisations at the 6th European Union-African Union Summit in Brussels, Belgium,” the statement read.
“The Summit which holds February 17 – 18, 2022, will have the participants deliberate on themes currently affecting the world.
“Such areas of discussion include Financing for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth; Climate Change and Energy Transition, Digital and Transport (Connectivity and Infrastructure); Peace, Security and Governance; and Private Sector Support and Economic Integration.
“Others are: Education, Culture and Vocational Training, Migration and Mobility; Agriculture and Sustainable Development and Health Systems and Vaccine Production.
“The Nigerian leader will use the opportunity of the meeting to have other bilateral engagements.”
The statement further said President Buhari will be accompanied on the trip by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire; and Minister of State for Environment, Sharon Ikeazor.
Others included on the entourage of President Buhari are: National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj.Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd); Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar; and the Chief Executive Officer of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
He is expected back on Saturday.
President Buhari only returned to Abuja on Monday, February 7 after four days in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he participated in the 35th Ordinary Session Assembly of the African Union (AU).
The President arrived at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja around 3pm on that day.
While in Addis Ababa, he took part in various meetings and consultations, including one with a Guinea-Bissau emissary; Senior Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guinea-Bissau, Suzi Barbosa, who provided him with graphic details of a recent coup attempt on President Umaru Sissoco Embalo.
Buhari also met on the sidelines of the summit with the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, with whom he discussed the growth and development of Africa.