Boko Haram, trade relations top agenda as Buhari, Obama meet Monday

President Muhammadu Buhari has said measures to strengthen and intensify bilateral cooperation against terrorism in Nigeria and West Africa will top his discussions with the United States (US) President, Barack Obama, when they meet in Washington D.C., on Monday.

The president is scheduled to depart Abuja on Sunday for Washington D.C., on a four-day official visit to the US.

According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to the President, Femi Adesina, in Abuja, on Wednesday, the president, who would meet with Obama at the White House on Monday, would 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.

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

The statement said the president would be received by the United States Secretary of State, John Kerry, at the State Department in Washington DC, before holding 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 would address the United States Chamber of Commerce and Corporate Council for Africa.

The statement revealed that Buhari, who would be accompanied by governors of Imo, Nasarawa, Edo, Borno and Oyo states, as well as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and permanent secretaries of the Federal Ministries  of Defence, Foreign Affairs, Industry, Trade and Investment, would also host interactive session with Nigerians in the America.

The statement explained that US trip would 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 expected back in the country on Thursday.

Meanwhile, former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, met with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday, to discuss matters relating to the president’s trip to the US.

Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting, the foremost diplomat said he exchanged ideas with the president on the Washington visit.

“I had a positive discussion with the president. We discussed international affairs, including, in particular, his forthcoming visit to the United States on the invitation of President Obama.

“We also touched on some national issues because of the strong link between foreign policy and domestic issues. I put at his disposal the benefits of my long experience on governance matters with Heads of Governments of 54-member countries of the Commonwealth and also other issues related to internal affairs.”