President Muhammadu Buhari is bound to leave Abuja to Malabo early today being Monday for talks with President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo in Malabo of Equatorial Guinea. According to a statement by Mr Femi Adesina, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, the talks will centre on measures to protect the people and resources of the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea.
The President would be accompanied to the trip by the Minister of Defence, Brig.-Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali (rtd.), the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd.) and other senior security officials. The talks are expected to later translate into signing of an agreement by Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea for the establishment of a combined maritime policing and security patrol committee on Tuesday. The agreement would secure the lives, resources and investments within the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea.
The two leaders are also expected to discuss and agree on other collaborative measures to combat crimes such as piracy, crude oil theft, attacks on oil rigs, arms smuggling and human trafficking in the Gulf of Guinea.
Another issue that is expected to receive the attention of both presidents would be the rescheduling of the joint summit of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, and the Economic Community of Central African States ECCAS, on additional cooperative measures to curb terrorism and violent extremism in West and Central Africa.
The statement noted that the summit would have held last year, last but was postponed because of Nigeria’s general elections. President Buhari is reportedly billed to return to Abuja on Tuesday at the completion of the assignment.
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