Two days after Saudi return, Buhari embarks on official trips to Europe

Two days after returning from Saudi Arabia where he attended a summit and also held prayers for Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari is heading for Glasgow, Scotland.

He is to attend the 26th Conference of Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in the country before heading for France.

According to Garba Shehu, Presidential spokesman, who announced his European trips, Buhari is scheduled to deliver his national statement at the High-Level segment for Heads of State and Government at the conference on Tuesday.

Shehu said the address will highlight Nigeria’s key priorities and action to tackle climate change as well as progress on the country’s transition to low carbon economy, consistent with achieving the Paris Climate Agreement.

The conference, hosted by the United Kingdom in partnership with Italy, will bring parties together to help accelerate action towards the Paris Agreement as well as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

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“Given Nigeria’s leading role in taking climate action and as a signatory to the Paris Agreement, COP 26 will afford a unique opportunity for the Nigerian delegation to work with other parties to make progress on the main goals of the conference including securing global net zero by mid-century and keeping 1.5C within reach; adapting to protect communities and natural habitats as well as mobilising the much needed finances to meet the set targets.”

“In Glasgow, President Buhari will participate in some side-line events hosted by US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron,” the statement read.

Shehu said after the Scottish Summit, Buhari would travel to Paris, France, on an official visit to reciprocate an earlier one to Nigeria by the French President, Emmanuel Macron, and also attend the Paris Peace forum 2021, the fourth edition to be hosted by the French President.

The Peace Forum will have Heads of State and Government and CEOs of major multinationals, as well as several civil society actors, gathering to advance concrete solutions to the enormous challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to improve global governance in times of COVID-19.

According to the Presidency, the Summit will focus on spurring a more solid and inclusive recovery by addressing the various gaps in global governance, offering initiatives to better tend to the global commons, and putting forward new principles of action for the post-COVID world.

The President will be accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Minister of State for Environment, Sharon Ikeazor; National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (Rtd) and Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.

Daily Trust