President Muhammadu Buhari has left Abuja Wednesday to attend EXPO 2020 Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). President Buhari described the State Visit by President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa as successful in spite of the scare generated by the new COVID-19 variant named Omicron.
Buhari received Ramaphosa at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday after which they held a press conference. Ramaphosa’s four-nation wraps up on December 7.
According to a statement issued by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), the EXPO 2020 Dubai, with the theme, “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future,” creates the environment for Nigeria to join over 190 countries to forge true and meaningful partnerships “to build a better future for everyone.”
The statement informed that EXPO 2020 will offer another opportunity for the Nigerian delegation to highlight significant strides in the economy in the last six years as a basis for making the country an important destination for foreign direct investment.
It said aside from touring the Nigerian Pavilion at the Expo on Friday, Nigeria’s National Day, the President will also receive in audience prospective investors as well as meet with His Highness, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of the Emirate of Dubai.
The statement added that on Saturday, President Buhari will be the Special Guest of Honour at the special Trade and Investment Forum themed: Unveiling Investment Opportunities in Nigeria. It is put together to mark Nigeria’s presence at the gathering by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.
The President was accompanied by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo; Finance, Budget and National Planning, Hajia Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed; Chairman/CEO Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa; Defence, Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi (retd); Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika; and Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammad Abubakar among others. President Buhari is expected back in Abuja on Sunday, December 5, 2021.