President Tinubu returns to Abuja after attending AU Summit in Addis Ababa

President Bola Tinubu on late Monday afternoon of February 19, arrived Abuja after attending the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union, AU, Heads of State and Government.

The Nigerian Airforce aircraft conveying the President landed at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Int’l Airport at about 04:00 pm local time.

Tinubu was received by top government officials including his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu and the Minister of State for Defense, Bello Matawalle.

Also, receiving the President were the Imo Governor, Hope Uzodinma; the Director-General of the Department of State Service, DSS, Yusuf Bichi, among others.

At his three-day stay in Addis Ababa, President Tinubu discussed thematic issues such as climate change and modalities of the AU’s participation and priorities in the G20.

At the Ministerial Executive Leadership Programme on Saturday, February 17, Tinubu argued that addressing Africa’s health sector challenges would require states to forge partnerships that transcend borders and sectors, leveraging collective expertise, knowledge, resources, and the private sector.

Tinubu, who spoke in his capacity as the newly-appointed AU Health Champion, said Africa’s effective collaboration with the rest of the world to tackle existential health challenges is not merely a strategic choice, but a moral imperative.

Addressing a plenary session attended by several of his counterparts, he affirmed Nigeria’s readiness to host the African Central Bank according to the vision of the Abuja Treaty.

The President on Sunday, February 18, held talks with Brazilian President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, with both countries now planning to establish direct flight operations between their respective financial capitals of Lagos and São Paulo.

Nigeria and Brazil also reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral relations mainly to increase the volume of trade and cooperation across solid mineral exploration, healthcare, and agriculture.