JUST IN: PRESIDENT BUHARI LEAVES FOR SENEGAL HOURS AFTER ATTACK ON KUJE PRISON
President Muhammadu Buhari, will travel from Abuja to Dakar, the capital of Senegal, on Wednesday in order to attend the summit of the International Development Association for Africa.
The tour takes place just 24 hours after a terrorist attack on a convoy of automobiles transporting the “advance team,” comprising security officers, protocol officers, and media officers, ahead of the President’s departure to Daura for Sallah.
The President is anticipated to join other African leaders in an open dialogue on development challenges and priorities as well as transformational initiatives that will result in an outcome document, the Dakar Declaration, according to a statement signed on Wednesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.
It read in part, “An institution of the World Bank Group, IDA is deepening its support to drive a resilient recovery for countries hit by the global crises of climate and COVID -19, growing levels of insecurity and more recently, by the impact of the war in Ukraine through its historic $93 billion 20th replenishment cycle which goes into effect between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2025.
“At the High-Level event slated for Thursday, July 7, and hosted by President Macky Sall of the Republic of Senegal, President Buhari is expected to join other African leaders in an open Dialogue on Development Challenges and priorities as well as transformational initiatives that will lead to an outcome document, the Dakar Declaration.
“This commitment is expected to chart the way forward for the transformation of the economies of these nations in partnership with the World Bank/IDA.”
Among the topics that will be covered are energy transition and climate change; agriculture, livestock, and food security; human capital; digital and technological innovation; and finance for recovery and economic transformation in Africa.
Along with the President, the following ministers will be traveling: Geoffery Onyeama, for foreign affairs; Zainab Ahmed, for finance, budget, and national planning; and Adeniyi Adebayo, for industry, trade, and investment.
There is also Ahmed Abubakar; Patience Oniha, the Director-General of the Debt Management Office; Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria; and Olukayode Pitan, the Managing Director of the Bank of Industry.
On Thursday, July 7, after the summit, Buhari is expected to leave the country once more.