President Muhammadu Buhari will depart Nigeria on Saturday for Burkina Faso, Igbere TV reports.
A statement obtained by Igbere TV said the President is attending the one-day ECOWAS’ Heads of State and Government Extraordinary Summit on Counter-Terrorism, in the country.
The statement issued by Mr Femi Adesina, Buhari’s Spokesman, said the summit was necessitated by the growing threat of terrorism in the West African sub-region.
“The ECOWAS leaders at the summit will review different initiatives taken so far, and redefine the priority intervention areas for the containment of the worrisome attacks in the area”, he said.
Adesina noted that the decision to convene the Summit was reached at the 55th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Abuja on June 29, 2019.
“President Buhari recognises the imperative of collective actions in the fight against terrorism, and will continue to partner with ECOWAS member states and international organisations to address the menace.”
The statement added, “In Ouagadougou, ECOWAS leaders are expected to adopt a priority action plan on counter-terrorism and put in place a mechanism to monitor the implementation of the measures adopted towards ensuring lasting peace in the sub-region.”
President Buhari will be accompanied by Governors Abubakar Bello, Dapo Abiodun and Okezie Ikpeazu of Niger, Ogun and Abia States respectively; as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, and the Minister of Defence, Major-General Bashir Magashi (retd).
Also on the President’s entourage are the National Security Adviser, Maj-General Babagana Monguno (retd) and Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Amb. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.
“The President is expected back in Abuja at the end of the Summit”, the statement added.
