Nigeria hosts second security summit on Saturday

President Muhammadu Buhari will on Saturday host the second Regional Security Summit in Abuja as part of the ongoing efforts by his administration to enhance the security of lives, properties and investments in Nigeria and neighbouring countries.

The forthcoming summit is a follow-up to the first edition, which took place in Paris, the France capital on May 17, 2014. Participants in the summit would include President Francois Hollande of France who hosted the first Regional Security Summit.

A statement yesterday by the presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina said Buhari, who is currently in the United Kingdom attending the two-day anti- corruption summit and the French President who is scheduled to arrive Abuja on Friday on an official visit to Nigeria will be joined at the summit by the Presidents of Cameroon, Paul Biya, Niger Republic, Momodou Issoufou Chad , Idris Deby and Benin Republic.

Also expected to be in attendance are the United States of America, Britain, Equatorial Guinea, the European Union, (EU) the Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS), the Economic Community of Central African States, (ECCAS) and the Gulf of Guinea Commission, (GGC) will also be represented at the summit which will have the successful conclusion of ongoing military operations against Boko Haram at the top of its agenda.

The statement noted that Buhari would receive Hollande and his delegation at the Presidential Villa on Saturday morning, ahead of the opening of the summit. It added,

“The speedy resolution of the humanitarian crises caused by the barbaric atrocities of the terrorist group will also feature prominently on the summit’s agenda.

“It is expected that new agreements on further defence and cultural cooperation between Nigeria and France will be concluded and signed after talks between the two Presidents and their officials.”