A Sochi welcome for President Buhari

President Muhamamdu Buhari Monday arrived at the Sochi International Airport, Russia, for a three-day inaugural Russia-Africa Summit and Economic Forum, which will focus on peace, security and development.

The President’s plane arrived around 11.25pm (local time), and he was received by the Mayor of the City of Sochi, Anatoliy Nikolayevich Pakhomov and state officials.

The Economic Forum and Summit will hold on 23rd and 24th October, 2019, respectively, with four plenaries that will be attended by more than thirty African Heads of State and government that have confirmed participation, including the Chairman of the African Union and President of Arab Republic of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

The summit will be co-chaired by President Vladimir Putin, who will present a keynote address at the opening on Wednesday, and the African Union Chairman.

President Buhari and Russian President will meet at the Nigeria and Russian bilateral meeting on Wednesday, 23rd and the Nigerian leader will make a statement at the summit on Thursday, October 24th, 2019.

Other participants at the summit that will showcase Russian interest and investment potential in Africa include businessmen, experts, leaders of major sub-regional associations, investors and organisations.

An African Business Forum, which will bring together African and Russian business leaders, will be held during the event to enhance Russian investments in Africa, and promote African business interest in the host country. About 250 Nigerian business interests will be participating in the forum.

“It is important that this meeting is taking place at this time,’’ says the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu.
“All the big nations are picking stronger interest in Africa. We now have US-Africa Summit, India-Africa Summit, China-Africa Summit and Japan-Africa Summit, so Russia has signified its interest on political, cultural and economic partnership.

“Nigeria has had an excellent relationship with Russia over the years. We will not forget how the country assisted us in keeping Nigeria as one during the civil war when some our traditional allies deserted us.