Buhari off to Malabo for security talks
Buhari off to Malabo for security talks
President Muhammadu Buhari will today depart Abuja for Malabo where he is expected to hold talks on ensuring security in the Niger Delta and the Gulf of Guinea. The president, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, will confer with the President of Equatorial Guinea, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.
The president’s visit, Adesina said, is in continuation of the Federal Government’s efforts to achieve greater security of lives, resources and investments in all parts of Nigeria and its sub-region. “President Buhari will travel to Malabo tomorrow for talks with President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea on further measures to protect the people and resources of the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea. “The two leaders are expected to sign an agreement for the establishment of a combined maritime policing and security patrol committee,” Adesina said.
This, Adesina said, is expected to be the major outcome of Buhari’s talks with his host. Both Buhari and Mbasogo 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.
The two leaders will also confer on at the rescheduling of the joint summit of the Economic Community of West African States and the Economic Community of Central African States on additional cooperative measures to curb terrorism and violent extremism in West and Central Africa.
Buhari will be accompanied by the Minister of Defence, Brig-Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali (rtd.), the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd.) and other senior security officials. The president is scheduled to return to Abuja tomorrow.
