United States President, Barack Obama will on July 20, 2015 host President Muhammadu Buhari at the White House where issues pertaining to cooperation between the two countries on how to advance a holistic and regional approach to combating the Boko Haram insurgency would be discussed.
According to a statement by office of the White House chief press secretary indicating that Obama has personally invited the Nigerian leader, the visit will also afford the United States the platform to assist Nigeria in its bid to promote important economic and political reforms that will advance its full potential as a regional and global leader.
The statement signed by the White House Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Josh Earnest also noted that Obama’s invitation to Buhari signifies America’s support for Nigerians on their historic 2015 general elections adjudged worldwide as one of the freest and fairest polls in Nigeria’s democratic history.
The statement made available to LEADERSHIP Friday yesterday reads in full: “On Monday, July 20, President Obama will host Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari at the White House.
“The visit will underscore the United States’ longstanding friendship with Nigeria, our commitment to strengthening and expanding our partnership with Nigeria’s new government, and our support for the Nigerian people following their historic democratic elections and peaceful transfer of power.
“President Obama looks forward to discussing with President Buhari on many shared priorities including U.S.-Nigeria cooperation to advance a holistic, regional approach to combating Boko Haram, as well as Nigeria’s efforts to advance important economic and political reforms that will help unlock its full potential as a regional and global leader.
“In addition to hosting President Buhari at the White House, the United States will welcome President Buhari’s senior advisors for consultations with U.S. counterparts and other events aimed at building on the strong U.S.-Nigeria relationship”.
Meanwhile, President Buhari yesterday embraced efforts to strengthen and expand cooperation between ECOWAS and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) on the war against terrorism.
Speaking at a meeting with the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr Kadre Desire Ouedraogo in Aso Rock, Buhari reiterated his stance that greater regional and international cooperation was needed to ensure victory over terrorism in Nigeria and other countries.
A statement by presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina noted that the President assured Mr. Ouedraogo that Nigeria will hold further consultations with other stakeholders to agree on a new date for the ECOWAS-ECCAS security summit on Boko Haram earlier scheduled to hold in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea on April 8, 2015.
The summit was postponed because of the general elections in Nigeria on March 28 and April 11, 2015.
According to Adesina, President Buhari also assured Mr. Ouedraogo that Nigeria will continue to fulfill its financial obligations to ECOWAS to enhance the regional body’s ability to attain its objective of regional integration and development.
“The President commended the ECOWAS Commission and other ECOWAS institutions for progress made on the Biometric Identity Card system, which will come into force in 2016, saying that its introduction will be a major milestone to full regional integration and the free movement of ECOWAS citizens within the sub-region”, he added.
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