JUST IN: Tinubu, Eight Ministers Depart Nigeria For Saudi-Africa Summit

President Bola Tinubu alongside eight Ministers and heads of agencies will, on Thursday, depart Abuja for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to attend the first Saudi-Africa Summit scheduled to take place in Riyadh on November 10, 2023.

VerseNews reports that the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, revealed this in a statement he signed on Wednesday titled ‘President Tinubu set to attend Saudi-Africa Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.’

According to Ngelale, the President will be accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman; Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun; Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu; as well as the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Abubakar Bagudu.

Others are the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Abubakar; and the newly-appointed Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Jalal Arabi.

At the Saudi-Africa Summit, the President will “underscore Nigeria’s commitment to attracting more Foreign Direct Investment and expanding business partnerships, which are strongly reinforced by his administration’s ongoing domestic economic reforms,” the statement read in part.

Discussions at the Saudi-Africa Summit will revolve around supporting joint action, enhancing political coordination, addressing regional security threats, facilitating economic transformation through research and the local development of new energy solutions, all while bolstering cross-sectoral investment cooperation.

Saudi Arabia has become Tinubu’s ninth foreign destination since assuming office about six months ago. He has so far attended engagements in France (twice), the UK, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, the Benin Republic, India, the United Arab Emirates and the United States of America.

President Tinubu will return to Abuja following the conclusion of the Summit.