Buhari Takes Issues Of Defence, Security, Trade To France

President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari will today leave Abuja for Paris, the capital of France, to commence a three-day visit to that country on the invitation of the president of France, Francois Hollande. A statement issued yesterday by his special adviser on media and publicity, Mr Femi Adesina says that while in Paris, the president will hold talks with President Hollande and other senior French government officials.

It states that the further strengthening and consolidation of ongoing bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and France in the areas of defence, security and trade and investment are issues that will top the agenda of the meeting between Buhari and Hollande.

“Apart from his scheduled meeting with President Hollande at the Elysee Palace on Monday evening, President Buhari and his team will also confer with the French Minister of Defence, Mr. Jean-Yves Le Drian, the French Minister of Finance and Public Accounts, Mr. Michel Sapin, the French Minister of Economy and Industry, Mr. Emmanuel Macron and the French Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, Mr. Laurent Fabius,” the statement says.

Leadership report continues:

The statement further says that the president will visit the headquarters of MEDEF, France’s largest federation of investors and employers, where he will participate in a France/Nigeria Investment Forum with leading Nigerian and French entrepreneurs.

The statement, made available to LEADERSHIP further states: “President Buhari will also confer with the Chief Executive Officers of leading French multinational companies such as Total and Lafarge on their current and future investments in Nigeria.

“The President’s other scheduled engagements in Paris include a meeting with African Ambassadors to France and an interactive session with members of the Nigerian community.”

The statement explains that the planned areas of discussion informed the composition of the president’s entourage to France and listed those on the visit with the president to include the national security adviser, Major-Gen Babagana Monguno (rtd) and permanent secretaries in the Federal Ministries of Defence, Finance, Agriculture, Foreign Affairs and Industry, Trade and Investment. Also on the trip are the chief executives of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council.

On conclusion of his visit to France on Wednesday, September 16 2015, the president is billed to return to Abuja immediately.