President Tinubu Leaves For 63rd ECOWAS Summit in Guinea Bissau

 

Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu, will leave  Abuja for Guinea-Bissau on Saturday, July 8, to attend the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in Bissau, capital of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau.

This was confirmed in a press statement released by the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, Mr Dele Alake, saying the summit, is slated for Sunday, July 9, 2023.

According to the statement, President Tinubu is expected to speak on memoranda affecting sub-regional issues including a Report of the 50th Ordinary Session of the Mediation and Security Council (MSC) covering security

challenges faced by the member countries; a Report of the 90th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS Council of Ministers on the financial situation of the body and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), as well as Report on the status of Transition in the Republics of Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea.

“Other issues slated for discussion include the Memoranda on the ECOWAS Single Currency Programme and the Report on Obstacles to the Free Movement of Goods on the Abidjan-Lagos corridor,” the statement added.
It was learnt that President Tinubu will travel with some members of the Presidential Policy Advisory Council and other top government officials.

The press release also stated that President Tinubu will use his visit to Guinea-Bissau to strengthen the bilateral ties between Nigeria and Guinea-Bissau, which are both members of ECOWAS. He will meet with Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, who was elected in 2019 after a long period of political instability and violence in the country.

President Tinubu will congratulate President Embalo on his efforts to restore peace and democracy in Guinea-Bissau, and pledge Nigeria’s continued support and solidarity. He will also explore ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries in various fields, such as trade, investment, energy, agriculture, education, and culture.

President Tinubu is expected to fly back to Nigeria after the meeting.