Buhari travels to Germany to discuss Boko Haram, IDPs with Merkel

President Muhammadu Buhari will embark on an official visit to the Federal Republic of Germany on Thursday and he will return on Saturday.

According to a statement by Femi Adesina, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Buhari will be accompanied by Kashim Shettima, governor of Borno state; Rochas Okorocha, governor of Imo state; and representatives of the national assembly.

While in Berlin, the president will confer with Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel on issues of shared interests between Nigeria and Germany, including further cooperation on security, the humanitarian situation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and rehabilitation of the north-east, as well as trade and economic relations between both countries.

He will also meet with Federal President Joachim Gauck.

“In furtherance of the administration’s objective to attract more foreign investment and create economic opportunities in the country, President Buhari will participate in a Business Forum in Berlin with leading German companies already active in Nigeria and other prospective investors,” Adesina said.

“Before returning to Abuja, the president is expected to meet with representatives of the Nigerian community in Germany.”

Adesina expressed Buhari’s commitment to deepening relations with Germany and building on the very cordial relations that both countries enjoy in several areas of bilateral cooperation, including the fight against terrorism, economic relations, rebuilding of the north-east, support for IDPs, vocational training, energy partnership and cultural relations.

“Shortly after his inauguration on May 29, 2015, President Buhari, on the invitation of Chancellor Merkel, attended the G7 summit in Elmau, Germany — the trip was his first to a non-African country after his assumption of office,” he recalled.

“From February 8 to 12 this year, President Gauck, accompanied by a delegation of German business community, was on an official visit to Nigeria, where they had fruitful discussions on trade and investments with representatives of government and the private sector in Abuja and Lagos.”