President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday arrived Washington DC ahead of his four-day working visit to the United States during which he will be hosted by President Donald Trump at the White House.
The meeting on Monday comes after an uncomfortable start to the Trump administration’s approach to the world’s second most populous continent.
The aircraft carrying President Buhari and members of his entourage left the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja on Saturday at about 11.35p.m.
His arrival was confirmed by the Presidency on Twitter.
The message reads: “President Muhammadu Buhari arrives Washington DC ahead of his working visit to the United States.
“He will meet with President Trump at the White House tomorrow.”
PHOTOS: President @MBuhari arrives Washington DC ahead of his Working Visit to the United States. He will meet with President Trump at the White House tomorrow. #PMBinDC pic.twitter.com/E4xyQrskzi
— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) April 29, 2018
Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, had on Friday in a statement in Abuja, said Buhari while in America would hold bilateral meeting with President Trump and would later have a working lunch on April 30.
According to Adesina, the meeting is to discuss ways to enhance the strategic partnership between the two countries.
He said the meeting would also advance shared priorities, such as: promoting economic growth, fighting terrorism and other threats to peace and security.
“The meeting will further deepen the US-Nigeria relationship as the United States considers Nigeria’s economic growth, security and leadership in Africa to be critical aspects of their strategic partnership.
“Later in the day, President Buhari will meet with a group of business persons in agriculture and agro-processing, dairy and animal husbandry,” he added.
While Nigeria seeks closer military and security ties with the US, it can’t overlook the difficult moments since Trump came to power – not least Trump’s firing of former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson just hours after Tillerson came to Nigeria on the highest-level US visit to Africa since Trump took office.
In December, Nigeria and several other African countries that are traditionally friendly with the US at the UN General Assembly voted to condemn Trump’s controversial decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
In January, Nigeria was one of a number of outraged African countries to summon the US ambassador to explain Trump’s reported vulgar remarks likening the continent to a filthy toilet.
The US president already had caused anger in Nigeria in June when he reportedly said Nigerians wouldn’t want to return to their “huts” if allowed to visit the US.
