Tinubu arrives in Ethiopia for AU Summit
By Kunle Sanni
President Bola Tinubu arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Thursday night to participate in the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government.
He was received at the airport by Ethiopian Deputy Chief of Protocol Eshetu Legesse, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, and the chargé d’affaires of the Nigerian Embassy in Ethiopia, Ambassador Nasir Aminu.
Ambassador Tuggar later briefed President Tinubu on the summit and Nigeria’s recent diplomatic achievements in a session that lasted until about 2 a.m. on Friday.
One of the highlights was the re-election of Ambassador Bankole Adeoye as African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security. Nigeria also retained its seat on the African Union Peace and Security Council, reaffirming, in Ambassador Tuggar’s words, “Nigeria’s leadership and commitment to peace and security on the continent.”
Present at the briefing were Finance Minister Wale Edun; Defence Minister Abubakar Badaru; Trade and Investment Minister Jumoke Oduwole; Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo; Information and National Orientation Minister Muhammed Idris; Environment Minister Balarabe Abbas Lawal; and Minister of State for Finance Doris Uzoka-Anite.
Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed, Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, and Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, Chief of Naval Staff, also attended.
This year’s AU summit, themed “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations,” focuses on reparatory justice and racial healing.
President Tinubu is scheduled to deliver a speech at the Summit-level meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council, where discussions will address the continent’s current security challenges, including escalating conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
He will also participate in meetings on health financing, the establishment of an Africa Credit Rating Agency, and climate change.
President Tinubu is expected to return to Abuja on Monday, February 17.
