President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to begin a three-day official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) tomorrow, Sunday to participate in this year’s edition of the World Future Energy Summit.
A statement by the senior special assistant to the President on media and publicity, Garba Shehu said that President Buhari will join the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki Moon, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan of Abu Dhabi and other participants as a special guest of honour at the Summit.
The Summit which, the statement said is now in its ninth year of existence, has developed into one of the world’s most influential events dedicated to advancing future energy, energy efficiency and clean technologies.
“In a move signaling Nigeria’s re-engagement with the Middle-East region, President Buhari will also lead a team of his ministers to bilateral talks with the government of the UAE.
“After the talks, a number of agreements between both countries on economic, trade and bilateral relations are expected to be signed.”
Garba Shehu said that Nigeria is expected to gain from President Buhari’s visit by getting more support from the UAE for its war against terrorism and the recovery of Nigeria’s stolen funds.
President Buhari, he said, is also scheduled to meet with leading UAE businessmen who are interested in Nigeria with a view to encouraging greater investment inflows to critical sectors such as power supply, oil, gas and agriculture even as he will also meet with Nigerian professionals in the UAE.
According to Garba Shehu, the President will be accompanied by the ministers of Power, Works and Housing, Petroleum, Environment, Justice, Trade and Investment, Finance and Foreign Affairs, as well as the National Security Adviser. He is expected back in Nigeria, with his entourage on Tuesday, January 19. [myad]
