LAGOS, Federal Republic of Nigeria. President Muhammadu Buhari, is expected back in the country today from Germany where he met with leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) industrialised nations, to present a ‘wish-list’ that has as priority an end to the Boko Haram menace in Nigeria’s northeast.
The G7 had earlier requested the then President-elect to prepare a shopping list and come with it for their consideration in what is seen as an excellent goodwill gesture towards the new leader and the country.
The President’s spokesman, Garba Shehu, in a statement from Munich, Germany on Sunday, confirmed that the security challenge was on top of the wish-list and quoted Buhari as saying: “We have a problem which they know.”
The President said he has used every opportunity at his disposal ahead of the meeting to discuss the country’s needs with specific reference to terrorism and development at person-to-person meetings and phone conversations with some of the leaders.
“These development issues, many and varied as they are, touch on the economy, combating corruption, increased foreign direct investment, FDI; power and energy, infrastructure, environment, enhanced transparency in elections and good governance,” he said.
Buhari announced that the leaders of the industrialized nations had shown a preparedness to work with Nigeria to help the country out of her problems.
President Buhari will hold meetings with the host, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the French President, Francois Hollande, Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the World Bank President, Jim Yong Kim.
Buhari who is in Germany for an Outreach summit of the Group of Seven industrialised nations (G-7) is also expected to hold talks with American President, Barak Obama.
Buhari will hold bilateral talks with the Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany; Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada ; President Francois Hollande of France, Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain, and other G-7 leaders in the course of the Outreach Session and a working lunch at the Elmau Castle, according to a statement issued by presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu.
Other invited Heads of State and international institutions who will join President Buhari at the working session with G-7 leaders on Monday at Elmau include President Jacob Zuma of South Africa, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, President Macky Sall of Senegal, President Beji Caid Essebsi of Tunisia and Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn of Ethiopia.
Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi of Iraq; the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki Moon; the Secretary-General of the OECD, Mr. Angel Gurria; Managing Director of the IMF, Mrs. Christine Largarde; the President of the World Bank Group, Dr. Jim Yong Kim, the Director-General of the International Labour Organistion, Mr. Guy Rider, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission , Mrs. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation are also scheduled to participate in the Outreach Session.
Buhari, who was received on arrival by the Vice Minister-President of Bavaria, Mrs. Inge Aigner, was accompanied by Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, former Governor Babatunde Fashola, retired General Abdurahman Dambazau, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Paul Lolo.
Before leaving Munich for home, the Head of the Bavarian regional government will host a dinner in honour of Buhari and other leaders invited to the G-7 Outreach Programme, Shehu’s statement added.
Credit: Daily Independent (Nigeria)
