PMB leaves for Washington DC to attend nuclear security summit

President Muhammadu Buhari will today leave Abuja for Washington DC to join President Barack Obama and other world leaders and heads of international organisations at the fourth nuclear security summit which opens there tomorrow.

While in Washington DC for the summit, the President and his delegation, which includes Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar of Bauchi State, his Kwara State counterpart, Abdulfatah Ahmed; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama; National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd) and Director-General of Nigeria’s Nuclear Regulatory Agency (NNRA), Prof. Lawrence Anikwe Dim, would also hold bilateral meetings with other participating Heads of Government and high-ranking United States government officials.

A statement yesterday by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, indicated that at the plenary session of the summit, which is dedicated to reinforcing international commitment to non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, Buhari would insist that while Nigeria would continue to sustain that commitment, world powers must respect the right of other countries to the peaceful use of nuclear energy for development purposes.

President Buhari is expected back in Abuja on Sunday.

In another development, President Buhari has admonished the South Sudanese government to invest more in agriculture and not to be solely dependent on oil revenues to grow the nation’s economy.

Receiving the out-going South Sudanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Makuet Riak, at the State House in Abuja, Buhari said South Sudan could avoid the mistake made by Nigeria in her over-reliance on oil revenue.

The President said: “Investing in sustainable agriculture is one of the best ways to provide jobs for the people and keep the nation productive. Food security is important to any country and that is what we are trying to achieve here, years after we ‘threw away’ agriculture for oil.”

He also praised the excellent relations between Nigeria and South Sudan and re-affirmed his commitment to strengthening the existing bilateral ties.

In his remarks, Riak said South Sudan was blessed with fertile land and would welcome more investments from Nigerian companies.