Buhari leaves for Germany Thursday on 3-day official visit

• To confer with Merkel, Gauck on security, humanitarian issues

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari will leave Abuja on Thursday on a three-day official visit to the Federal Republic of Germany from October 13 to 15, 2016.

A statement by the Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, on Wednesday in Abuja said in Berlin, President Buhari, would confer with Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel on issues of shared interests between Nigeria and Germany.

Some of these issues Adesina said include further cooperation on security, the humanitarian situation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and rehabilitation of the North-East, as well as trade and economic relations between both countries.

He said the President, who would be accompanied on the visit by Governors Kashim Shettima of Borno State and Rochas Okorocha of Imo respectively and representatives of the National Assembly, would meet with Federal President Joachim Gauck.

Adesina said that in furtherance of the administration’s objective to attract more foreign investment and create economic opportunities in the country, President Buhari will participate in a Business Forum in Berlin with leading German companies already active in Nigeria and other prospective investors.

“Before returning to Abuja, the President is expected to meet with representatives of the Nigerian community in Germany.

“President Buhari is committed to deepening relations with Germany and building on the very cordial relations both countries enjoy in several areas of bilateral cooperation including the fight against terrorism, economic relations, rebuilding of the North east, support for IDPs, vocational training, energy partnership and cultural relations,” he said.

Shortly after his inauguration on May 29, 2015, President Buhari, on the invitation of Chancellor Merkel, attended the G7 summit in Elmau, Germany – the trip was his first to a non-African country after his assumption of office.

From February 8 to 12 this year, President Gauck, accompanied by a delegation of German business community, was on an official visit to Nigeria, where they had fruitful discussions on trade and investments with representatives of government and the private sector in Abuja and Lagos.