Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari left Abuja on Tuesday for Portugal at the invitation of President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa of Portugal and attend the United Nations Conference.
The statement by the Presidency on Tuesday in Abuja said that the Nigerian leader would during the visit attend the United Nations Ocean Conference in Portugal.
The conference, which began in Lisbon on Monday, June 27, and runs till July 1, is co-hosted by the Governments of Kenya and Portugal and supported by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).
According to the statement, the conference aims to accelerate the adoption of science-based innovative solutions to challenges facing oceans and the global marine ecosystem.
It added that President Buhari would also hold official talks with his Portuguese counterpart and be conferred with the country’s National Honour and decorated with the ‘Great Collar of the Order of Prince Henry.’
The two Presidents, according to the statement, are expected to chair an enlarged bilateral meeting and witness the signing of some agreements bordering on issues of mutual concern to Portugal and Nigeria.
President Buhari is also expected to visit the Portuguese Parliament and hold discussions with its President, Dr Augusto Santo Silva, as well as the Prime Minister of Portugal, Antonio Costa.
The Nigerian leader is also scheduled to address a Forum of Nigerian and Portuguese businessmen and hold separate meetings with select Portuguese Chief Executive Officers and prospective investors in Nigeria.
President Buhari, who is expected back in Abuja on Saturday, July 2, was accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Chief Adeniyi Adebayo; Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Sunday Dare and Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami.
Others are National Security Adviser, Maj-Gen Babagana Monguno (Rtd); Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Amb. Ahmed Rufa’i Abubakar and Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
GIK/APA