President Bola Tinubu arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Thursday night to participate in the 38th ordinary session of the assembly of the African Union (AU) heads of state and government.
A press statement by the Special Adviser to the president on Communications and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the president was welcomed at the airport by the Ethiopian Deputy Chief of Protocol, Eshetu Legesse, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, and the chargé d’affaires of the Nigerian Embassy in Ethiopia, Ambassador Nasir Aminu.
Ambassador Tuggar subsequently briefed President Tinubu about the summit and some diplomatic achievements for Nigeria, a session that lasted until about 2 am on Friday.
Among these achievements was the re-election of Ambassador Bankole Adeoye as the African Union commissioner for political affairs, peace, and security.
Nigeria also retains its seat on the African Union Peace and Security Council, reaffirming, in the words of Ambassador Tuggar, “Nigeria’s leadership and commitment to peace and security on the continent.”
Present at the briefing were Mr. Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance; Abubakar Badaru, Minister of Defence; Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Trade and Investment; Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation; Muhammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation; Balarabe Lawal, Minister of Environment; and Doris Uzoka-Anite, Minister of State for Finance.
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Also in attendance, were the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed, and Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, Chief of Naval Staff.
This year’s AU summit, themed: “Justice for Africans and people of African descent through reparations,” focuses on reparatory justice and racial healing.
Tinubu will deliver a speech at the summit-level meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council, where the discussions will address current security challenges on the continent, including the escalating conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Additionally, the president will participate in meetings on health financing, the establishment of an African Credit Rating Agency, and climate change.
President Tinubu is scheduled to return to Abuja on Monday, February 17.
