President Muhammadu Buhari returned to Abuja on Sunday after a week-long visit to Washington DC, USA, where he attended the United States-Africa Leaders Summit.
While in Washington, the Nigerian leader also participated actively at the U.S.– Nigeria Business and Investment Forum.
The business roundtable was organised by the American Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment.
Speaking at the forum, Mr Buhari said Nigeria remained the best destination for American investors to put their money.
He said aside from the population advantage in size and demography, various incentives and policies implemented by the Nigerian government made it a destination of choice for investment.
Mr Buhari also received the Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Forum, Sheikh Al-Mahfoudh Bin Bayyah, and his deputy, Bob Roberts of the U.S., who visited him in Washington, USA.
At the meeting with the Secretary General of the forum, Mr Buhari said the work of the foundation in promoting multi-faith dialogue was as crucial to the world as it was to Nigeria.
The president also spoke about the need to raise generations of youths devoid of religious extremism and bigotry, urging the group to continue to target the young people who are the promise of the future.
Also, at an interactive session in Washington entitled, “A conversation with President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria’’, Mr Buhari said Nigeria’s agricultural revolution had led to the creation of over 13 million direct and indirect jobs in the last seven and half years.
The event was co-hosted by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), the International Republican Institute, the National Endowment for Democracy, and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems.
He reiterated his avowed determination to ensure free, fair, and transparent national elections, whose outcome would be largely accepted by the contestants.
The Nigerian leader used the occasion to advise western nations again not to be in a rush to eliminate the usage of fossil fuels in a bid to ensure a healthy climate.
Mr Buhari also cautioned western nations on the frivolous issuance of travel advisories on Nigeria, urging the international media to be more objective in its reportage.
He told the international community that despite the nonchalant actions and attitudes of some friends and allies, ”Nigeria is nonetheless winning the war on terrorism.”
Mr Buhari on Thursday in Washington DC, USA, warned that Africa risks not attaining the goals continental leaders have set for the region by 2063 given the challenges facing it.
According to him, the continent has witnessed increased, diverse and complex threats, including climate change and the scourge of terrorism.
Other challenges were violent extremism, transnational organised crimes, ideological radicalisation, and recently, an upsurge in the unconstitutional change of governments (UCGs).
The president concluded his official engagements with a presidential town hall meeting he held with Nigerians in the diaspora on Friday in Washington as he rounded off his participation in the U.S.-Africa leaders’ summit.
At the meeting, Mr Buhari commended Nigerians in the diaspora for remitting more than $20 billion home in 2021.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden of the United States, at the meeting with leaders of six African countries slated to have elections in 2023,
praised the Nigerian leader for his efforts in deepening democracy not only in Nigeria but also in Africa.
Mr Biden said he had followed the trajectory of the Nigerian leader since 2015, when he was elected president, from being an opposition leader when he (Mr Biden) was a vice president.
He added that it was very heartening that ”Nigeria is quite a model for democracy, especially the fact that President Buhari is not seeking a third term.”
Mr Biden, therefore, encouraged Mr Buhari and the Nigerian electoral umpire to continue to be non-partisan.
The U.S. president said the meeting with the select African leaders, including those of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Liberia, Madagascar, and Sierra Leone, was to discuss elections and democracy in Africa.
(NAN)
