Buhari departs for Portugal on state visit, to participate in UN Ocean Conference
AREWA AGENDA – President Muhammadu Buhari will on Tuesday embark on a state visit to Portugal on the invitation of President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity Garba Shehu said Buhari, during the visit, will address a Forum of Nigerian and Portuguese businessmen and hold separate meetings with select Portuguese Chief Executive Officers and prospective investors in Nigeria.
The statement added that Buhari, who will hold official talks with his Portuguese counterpart, will also be conferred with the country’s National Honour.
“The two Presidents are expected to chair an enlarged bilateral meeting and witness the signing of some agreements bordering on issues of mutual concern.”
Shehu added that Buhari is also expected to visit the Portuguese parliament and hold discussions with the President of the Assembly Augusto Santo Silva, as well as the Prime Minister of Portugal, Antonio Costa.
Read Also:
During this visit, Buhari will also participate in the United Nations (UN) Ocean Conference, which began in Lisbon on Monday, June 27, and runs till July 1.
“The Conference, co-hosted by the Governments of Kenya and Portugal and supported by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), aims to accelerate the adoption of science-based innovative solutions to challenges facing oceans and the global marine ecosystem,” the statement said.
The Nigerian leader is also expected to engage members of the Nigerian community in Portugal on matters affecting them and developments at home.
In the President’s entourage are Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Adeniyi Adebayo, Minister of Youth and Sports Sunday Dare and Minister of Communication and Digital Economy Isa Pantami.
Others are National Security Adviser Babagana Monguno, Director-General National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Ahmed Rufa’i Abubakar and Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
Shehu, however, said the president will return to Abuja on Saturday, July 2.
