Buhari For D-8 Summit, Eyes Bilateral Pact With Turkey

BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – President Muhammadu Buhari will depart for Istanbul, the Turkish capital Wednesday to feature in the 9th Summit of D-8 countries on Friday, October 20, 2017.

Prior to the D-8 Summit, President Buhari, at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, will participate in an official working visit to Ankara, the capital city.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina said that while in Ankara, President Buhari will have a ‘tete-a-tete with his Turkish counterpart while delegations from both countries will hold discussions in various fields including defence cooperation, security, educational and migration issues.’

According to a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, “the Nigerian leader will also visit the Grand National Assembly of the Republic of Turkey in Ankara where he will meet with the Speaker, Ismail Kahraman.

“While in Istanbul, the Turkish commercial centre, President Buhari will use the occasion of the D-8 Summit to bolster warm and growing ties across a broad range of areas of cooperation with leaders of the D8-member countries, namely Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan and Turkey.”

Adesina further stated that the Summit with the theme, ‘‘Expanding Opportunities through Cooperation’’, will among other things, focus on cooperation in the areas of agriculture, trade, transport, energy and increased private sector participation among member-countries.

He said during the D-8 Summit, which will also mark the 20th anniversary of the organisation established to improve the developing countries’ positions in the world economy, President Buhari will highlight the significant show of confidence in Nigeria’s business environment and economy.

“He will also affirm Nigeria’s resolve to work with D-8 member-countries on many key areas, including peace and security, economy and trade.

“At the end of the Summit, the Heads of State and Government will adopt a Communiqué, also known as the ‘Istanbul Declaration’”, Adesina said.

The statement further said; “The President will be accompanied on the trip by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj. Gen Babagana Monguno (rtd); Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama and his Trade and Investment counterpart, Mr. Okechukwu Enelamah, Defence, Brig. Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali and Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Hameed Ali.”