Buhari to pay state visit to Portugal, participate in UN Ocean Conference

President Muhammadu Buhari will on Tuesday, depart Abuja on a State Visit to Portugal at the invitation of President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s media aide, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to Shehu, the president, who will hold official talks with his Portuguese counterpart, will be conferred with the country’s National Honour and decorated with ‘Great Collar of the Order of Prince Henry.’

“The two presidents are expected to chair an enlarged bilateral meeting and witness the signing of some agreements bordering on issues of mutual concern.

“President Buhari will also visit the Portuguese parliament and hold discussions with its president, Dr Augusto Santo Silva, as well as the Prime Minister of Portugal, Antonio Costa.

“In the course of the visit, the president is scheduled to address a Forum of Nigerian and Portuguese businessmen and hold separate meetings with select Portuguese Chief Executive Officers and prospective investors to Nigeria.

“President Buhari will also participate in the United Nations Ocean Conference, which began in Lisbon on June 27, and runs till July 1,’’ the presidential aide said.

The conference is being co-hosted by the Governments of Kenya and Portugal and supported by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).

It aims to accelerate the adoption of science-based innovative solutions to challenges facing oceans and the global marine ecosystem.

The Nigerian leader is also expected to engage members of the Nigerian community in Portugal on matters affecting them and developments at home.

Shehu said the president would be accompanied by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, Industry, Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo, Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare and Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami.

Others are the National Security Adviser, retired Maj-Gen Babagana Monguno, the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Amb. Ahmed Abubakar and Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

The president is expected to return to Abuja on July 2.