Buhari, Aisha, Six Ministers, Security Chiefs In Turkey For Africa Partnership Summit
President Muhammadu Buhari left Abuja is currently in Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey, to participate in the third Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit.
The President and his entourage, who left Abuja yesterday, Thursday, December 16, will be participating in the event being hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with the theme; ‘Enhanced Partnership for Common Development and Prosperity’.
With President Buhari at the Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit, now in its third edition, are his wife, Aisha, six ministers and two security chiefs among other officials.
Reports said discussions will centre on reviewing existing cooperation between African countries and Turkey since the last summit held in 2014 and a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu said the Summit comes against the backdrop of President Erdogan’s recent State Visit to Nigeria.
During the visit to Nigeria, the Turkish delegation had signed several agreements in the fields of energy, defence industry, mining and hydrocarbons aimed at expanding existing bilateral ties.
The Turkish leader also used the opportunity to affirm his commitment to immediately expand the volume of trade between the two countries to $5 billion, noting that the Nigerian delegation will seize the opportunity of the gathering in Istanbul to enhance cooperation with other partners for more trade and investment opportunities in the country.
The statement said the Summit is also expected to provide the needed guidelines and direction for cooperation with African countries for the next five years.
Accompanying President Buhari on the trip is his wife, Aisha Buhari; Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Defence, Maj-Gen. Bashir Magashi (Rtd); FCT – Mohammed Bello; Health – Dr Osagie Ehanire; Agriculture – Mohammed Abubakar; Industry – Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo; the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (Rtd); and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar among others.
The President is expected back in Abuja on Sunday, December 19, 2021.
