President Bola Tinubu on Saturday evening arrived in Bissau, the capital of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, for the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
President Tinubu additionally used the chance of the summit to go to the Nigerian contingent stationed in the nation underneath the ECOWAS Stabilisation Force.
The 63rd Ordinary Session summit, which is able to open on Sunday, July 9, 2023, would be the first worldwide engagement of the President throughout the African continent since he assumed workplace on May 29, 2023.
The 16 regional leaders are anticipated to deal with memoranda on urgent regional points together with the Report of the fiftieth Ordinary Session of the Mediation and Security Council (MSC) protecting safety challenges confronted by the member international locations, the Report of the ninetieth Ordinary Session of ECOWAS Council of Ministers on the monetary state of affairs of the physique and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Other issues slated for consideration by the leaders are the Report on the standing of Transition in the Republics of Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea, the Memoranda on the ECOWAS Single Currency Programme and the Report on Obstacles to Free Movement of Goods on the Abidjan- Lagos hall.
Upon his arrival, President Tinubu visited the Nigerian Troops underneath the ECOWAS Stabilisation Force in Guinea-Bissau.
He expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the troopers and their Commander, General Al-Hassan Grema, for his or her dedication and repair to Nigeria and their host nation, including that Nigeria would proceed to assist democracy in West Africa and all over the world.
“I am here to show solidarity with you. I want to assure you we are committed to supporting peace and democracy not only in West Africa but around the world.
“Nigeria is a giant that has made its mark in Sierra Leone and Liberia and other places. We count on your support for the defence of constitutional order. I heard your allowances have been paid up to date. Nothing else should make you angry. We will continue to build a virile force.
“We are proud of you. Proud of your loyalty. Nigeria depends on you. There will be peace and progress in our country,” President stated.
Brigadier General Grema expressed the appreciation of the troops to President Tinubu for being the primary Commander-in-Chief in Nigeria’s historical past to go to his troopers exterior the shore of the nation.
While in Guinea-Bissau, the Nigerian chief is scheduled to carry bilateral conferences and produce other engagements on the sidelines of the summit.
On the entourage of the President on the journey are National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, Acting Governor of the Central Bank, Dr. Folashodun Shonubi; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Adamu Ibrahim Lamuwa; Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Defence, Dr. Ibrahim Kana; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mr. Aliyu Ahmed, and ECOWAS Permanent Representative, Ambassador Musa Nuhu.
Others on the entourage embrace former Governors, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa) and Senator Abu Ibrahim from Katsina State.
