President Muhamamdu Buhari Monday arrived at the Sochi International
Airport, Russia, for a three-day inaugural Russia-Africa Summit and
Economic Forum, which will focus on peace, security and development.
The President’s plane touched the tarmac at 11.25pm (local time), and he
was received by the Mayor of the City of Sochi, Anatoliy Nikolayevich
Pakhomov and state officials.
The Economic Forum and Summit will hold on 23rd and 24th October, 2019,
respectively, with four plenary sessions that will be attended by more
than thirty African Heads of State and governments who have confirmed
participation, including the Chairman of the African Union and President
of Arab Republic of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
The summit will be co-chaired by President Vladimir Putin, who will
present a keynote address at the opening on Wednesday, and the African
Union Chairman.
President Buhari and the Russian President will meet at the Nigeria and
Russian bilateral meeting on Wednesday, 23rd and the Nigerian leader
will make a statement at the summit on Thursday, October 24th, 2019.
Other participants at the summit that will showcase Russian interest and
investment potential in Africa include businessmen, experts, investors,
leaders of major sub-regional associations and organisations.
An African Business Forum, which will bring together African and Russian
business leaders, will be held during the event to enhance Russian
investments in Africa, and promote African business interest in the host
country. About 250 Nigerian business interests will be participating in
the forum.
“It is important that this meeting is taking place at this time,” says
the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity,
Malam Garba Shehu.
“All the big economies are picking stronger interest in Africa. We now
have US-Africa Summit, India-Africa Summit, China-Africa Summit and
Japan-Africa Summit, so Russia has signified its interest for political,
cultural and economic partnership.
“Nigeria has had an excellent relationship with Russia over the years.
We will not forget how the country assisted us in keeping Nigeria as one
during the civil war when some of our traditional allies deserted us.
“They have also stood behind us in the fight against terrorism, Boko
Haram and ISWA, and Russia has demonstrated its capacity in gas
production, a resource which Nigeria has a huge potential of
utilising,” he added.
Shehu said the summit will look into issues of sustainable energy, mines
and steel, infrastructure development in Africa, nuclear energy and
trade and investment.
On security, the Senior Special Assistant said the meeting will come up
with proposals for a security architecture that will be heavily driven
by new technology.
President Buhari is accompanied by Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya of
Gombe State, Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State and Governor
Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State.
Others on the trip are: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama,
Minister of Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo, Minister of Mines and
Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite and Minister of State, Petroleum,
Timipre Sylva.