President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, will depart Nigeria to the Republic of Benin, in honouring an invitation to attend the 63rd independence anniversary of the country.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communication, and Strategy, Dele Alake.
Alake in the statement revealed that President Tinubu, who doubles as the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States, was invited as the Special Guest of President Patrice Talon at the ceremony.
Tinubu and Talon first met on the sidelines of the summit on the New Global Financing Pact in Paris, France, later, at the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS held in Guinea-Bissau and recently, at the State House, Abuja, along with leaders of three other West African nations, where the Benin Republic President invited him for the anniversary.
According to the statement, Tinubu had drawn the attention of the Beninese first citizen to the need to review and strengthen cultural, trade, and economic relations between the two neighbouring countries, emphasising joint border patrols by the Customs and harmonising regulations on the frontlines.
However, the statement further revealed that the President will be accompanied on the one-day visit, by six Nigerian governors, who were also invited by President Talon, and his aides.
The six governors are Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq of Kwara State, Nasir Idris of Kebbi State, and the Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Umar Bago.
The statement reads:
“President Bola Tinubu will on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, honour an invitation to attend the 63rd independence anniversary of the Republic of Benin.
“The President, who is also the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States, will be the Special Guest of President Patrice Talon at the ceremony.
“President Tinubu had first met with Talon on the sidelines of the summit on the New Global Financing Pact in Paris, France, later at the 63rd Ordinary session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS held in Guinea-Bissau and more recently at the State House, Abuja along with leaders of three other West African nations, where the Benin Republic President invited him for the anniversary.
“President Tinubu had drawn the attention of the Beninese leader to the need to review and strengthen cultural, trade and economic relations between their two countries, highlighting joint border patrols by the Customs and harmonizing regulations on the frontlines.
“The President will be accompanied on the one-day visit by six governors, who were invited by President Talon, and his aides.
“The six governors are: Ogun, Dapo Abiodun; Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Oyo, Seyi Makinde; Kwara, Abdulrahman AbdulRasaq; Kebbi, Nasir Idris, and
Niger, Mohammed Umar Bago,” Alake wrote.
