President to discuss war against terrorism, trade relations during 4-day US visit

monjola sotubo

July 15, 2015 6:52 PM

Buhari will travel to the US on Monday, July 20, 2015 and be hosted by President Barack Obama in Washington.

President Muhammadu Buhari addresses members of the National Working Committee during the meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) party at the headquarters of the party in Abuja, Nigeria July 3, 2015. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde

President Muhammadu Buhari has revealed his plans for an upcoming four-day trip to the United States of America.

Buhari will travel to the US on Monday, July 20, 2015 and be hosted by President Barack Obama in Washington.

The Nigerian President’s plans were contained in a press statement released by his media aide, Femi Adesina on Wednesday, July 15.

According to the statement, “topmost on the agenda of President Buhari’s talks with President Obama and United States Government officials will be measures to strengthen and intensify bilateral and international cooperation against terrorism in Nigeria and West-Africa”.

Buhari “will later hold further discussions with the Chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey and the Deputy Secretary of Defence, Robert Work on military and defence cooperation”.

The statement reads further:

“The President will also meet with Vice President Joe Biden and confer with the US Attorney-General, Loretta Lynch, the US Secretary of Treasury, Jack Lew, the US Secretary of Commerce, Penny Pritzker and the US Trade representative, Michael Froman on United States support for his administration’s war against corruption as well as fresh measures to boost Nigeria-United States trade relations.”

“The President, who will be received by the United States Secretary of State at the State Department in Washington DC, will later hold meetings with the United States Senate and Congressional Committees on Foreign Relations, as well as the Black Caucus of the United States House of Representatives.”

“Before leaving Washington DC, President Buhari will address the United States Chamber of Commerce and Corporate Council for Africa.”

“The President, who will be accompanied by the Governors of Imo, Nasarawa, Edo, Borno and Oyo States as well as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and Permanent Secretaries of the Federal Ministries of Defence, Foreign Affairs, Industry, Trade and Investment, will also host an interactive session with Nigerians in the American Diaspora.”

“The US trip will also afford President Buhari the opportunity of a reunion with members of the American War College Class of 1980 in which he was a distinguished participant. He is due back in Abuja on Thursday, July 23.”

Meanwhile, the US has revealed that it will continue to mount pressure on Nigeria to legalize gay marriage following a Supreme Court ruling permitting it in all 52 US states.

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