MUHAMMADU BUHARI LEAVES FOR EQUATORIAL GUINEA MONDAY

President Mohammadu Buhari would leave Abuja on Monday for Malabo, Equatorial Guinea to holds bilateral talks on regional security with president Nguema Mbasogo. The President would be accompanied to the trip by the Minister of Defence, Brig.-Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali (rtd.), the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd.) and other senior security officials.

The talks are expected to later translate into signing of an agreement by Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea for the establishment of a combined maritime policing and security patrol committee on Tuesday. 

The agreement would held secure the lives, resources and investments within the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea. The two leaders are also expected to discuss and agree on other collaborative measures to combat crimes such as piracy, crude oil theft, attacks on oil rigs, arms smuggling and human trafficking in the Gulf of Guinea. 

Another issue that is expected to receive the attention of both presidents would be the rescheduling of the joint summit of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, and the Economic Community of Central African States ECCAS, on additional cooperative measures to curb terrorism and violent extremism in West and Central Africa. 

A statement by the presidential spokesperson, Mr. Femi Adesina on Sunday stated that the summit would have held last year by Equatorial Guinea last but was postponed because of Nigeria’s general elections. President Buhari is billed to return to Abuja on Tuesday at the completion of the assignment.