President Muhammadu Buhari is set to leave Abuja for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Thursday to participate in the 36th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU).
The theme of the summit is “Acceleration of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Implementation.”
The President is expected to partake in three high-level meetings on peace and security, climate change, and the political situation in some West African countries.
The first meeting will be the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of Heads of State and Government on the situation in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, which will be chaired by the President of South Africa, in his capacity as the Chair of the Council for the month of February.
The second meeting will be the Committee of the Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), currently chaired by the President of Niger Republic.
President Buhari will also attend an extraordinary summit of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS on the margins of the annual meetings of the AU.
During the summit, the Nigerian leader will deliver remarks at these events as well as present his National Statement at the opening session of the Summit.
The Summit brings together leaders from the AU member countries, as well as a number of non-AU countries and international institutions accredited to the AU in Addis Ababa.
The President’s presence at the AU Summit is in line with Nigeria’s commitment to the integration of the continent through the African Union.
The country has been an active participant in the activities of the AU and has contributed immensely to the development of the African continent.
President Buhari will be accompanied on the trip by some Ministers and other top government officials. The President is expected to return to Abuja on Monday, February 20.
