President Jonathan will, today, (Sunday) leave for Washington DC, to participate in the three-day US-African Leaders’ Summit. During the trip, which is at the invitation of President Obama, Jonathan is expected to join 50 other leaders to proffer solutions to the continent’s socio-economic problems.
But ahead of the summit, the United States of America has ordered all African delegates to the summit to be subjected to a mandatory screening for Ebola virus before going to be allowed entry into US.
A statement by the Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati in Abuja yesterday said the President would join President Obama and about 50 others for discussions that are expected to lead to greater progress in key areas such as expanding trade and investment ties, promoting inclusive sustainable development and expanding cooperation on peace and security.
“The Summit, which is the first of its kind between an American President and African heads of state and government, is expected to greatly strengthen ties between the United States, Nigeria and other African countries.
“In addition to three special sessions on “Investing in Africa’s Future”, “Peace and Regional Stability” and “Governing the Next Generation”, the summit will also feature side-events such as the United States-Africa Business Forum which has the objectives of boosting efforts to strengthen trade and financial ties between the United States and Africa, creating partnerships that will accelerate job creation, and encouraging even more American investments in Nigeria and other African countries.”
Besides, the statement noted that President Jonathan is also scheduled to hold meetings in Washington with key United States political, security and business leaders on the sidelines of the summit to discuss the further expansion of bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in other areas including the war against terrorism.
The President, according to the statement, would be accompanied on the trip to the summit by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga; Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo and the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.) He would return home at the conclusion of the summit on Wednesday.
According to a Reuters report, United States President, Mr. Barack Obama Obama explained on Friday that the action would be taken to protect the US from the outbreak of the disease.
Obama said that some participants at the US-Africa summit taking place in Washington between Monday and Wednesday next week would be screened for exposure to the deadly Ebola virus.
“We are taking the appropriate precautions,” he said. “Folks who are from these countries that have even a marginal risk, or an infinitesimal risk of having been exposed in some fashion, we’re making sure we’re doing screening.”
Obama also says the American Federal Centers for Disease Control are working with international health organizations to provide assistance to the affected countries.
Meanwhile,an American doctor infected with the Ebola virus was the first to be flown to the U.S. for treatment and arrived, yesterday, in Atlanta, a missionary group said.
Two seriously ill American aid workers will be treated at Atlanta’s Emory University Hospital. Samaritan’s Purse missionary group spokesman Todd Shearer told newsmen that a plane carrying Dr. Kent Brantly had left West Africa. Brantly works for the group that is paying for the trip.
The private jet outfitted with a special, portable tent designed for transporting patients with highly infectious diseases arrived at Dobbins Air Force Base in Marietta, Georgia, just outside Atlanta.
