Buhari Begins State Visit To Germany On Thursday

.Boko Haram, Economy Tops Agenda

President Muhammadu Buhari will begin a three-day official visit to Germany on Thursday. Issues of security and economy will dominate the agenda.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, in a statement, said the state visit holds between October 13 and 15.

Adesina said the President would confer with Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on issues of shared interests between Nigeria and Germany.

The issues would include further cooperation on security, the problem of Internally Displaced Persons and rehabilitation of the North-East, and trade and economic relations between the two countries.

According to the statement, Buhari will be accompanied by Governors Kashim Shettima of Borno State, Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and representatives of the National Assembly. The president would is also expected to meet with President Joachim Gauck of Germany.

The statement partly read, “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.

“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.”