President Muhammadu Buhari has been scheduled to leave for Paris, France today, May 16 Abuja for Paris, to officially attend African Finance Summit which will be focused on reviewing African economy, following shocks from Coronavirus pandemic, and getting relief, especially from increased debt burden on countries.
A statement yesterday, May 15 by the senior special Assistant to the President on media and publicity, FMalam Garba Shehu said that the Summit, to be hosted by President Emmanuel Macron, will draw major stakeholders in the global finance institutions and some Heads of Government, who will, collectively, discuss external funding and debt treatment for Africa, and private sector reforms.
According to Garba Shehu, while in France, Buhari will meet with the French President to discuss growing security threats in Sahel and Lake Chad region, political relations, economic ties, climate change and partnership in buoying the health sector, particularly in checking spread of Covid-19, with more research and vaccines.
He said that 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 that the President will be accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, Minister of Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, and Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire.
Also on the trip, the spokesman said, are National Security Adviser, retired Major General Babagana Mohammed Monguno and Director General of National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.
