President Muhammadu Buhari will leave Abuja today, Thursday for Istanbul, Turkey, to attend the third Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit, which will be hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The theme of the Summit, according to the organizers, is “Enhanced President Buhari To Attend Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit In Istanbul.”
The agenda includes a review of African-Turkish cooperation since the last summit in 2014, as part of the Partnership for Common Development and Prosperity.
The third Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit follows President Erdogan’s recent State Visit to Nigeria, during which he signed several agreements to strengthen bilateral ties in the fields of energy, defense industry, mining, and hydrocarbons.
During his visit to Nigeria, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reaffirmed his commitment to increase bilateral trade to $5 billion dollars immediately, and the Nigerian delegation will take advantage of the Istanbul meeting to strengthen cooperation with other partners in order to increase trade and investment opportunities in the country.
It is expected that the Summit would provide guidelines and direction for cooperation with African countries for the next five years.
President Buhari will be accompanied on the trip by his wife, Aisha Buhari; the 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 the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.
The President is expected back in Abuja on Sunday, December 19, according to a statement issued by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President,(Media & Publicity)
