The white house as announced on Sunday that President Muhammadu Buhari will meet Donald Trump in Washington on April 30 to discuss issues including “fighting terrorism” and economic growth.
Buhari and Trump “President Trump looks forward to discussing ways to enhance our strategic partnership and advance our shared priorities: promoting economic growth and reforms, fighting terrorism and other threats to peace and security, and building on Nigeria’s role as a democratic leader in the region,” the White House said in a statement.
The relationship of the United States with Nigeria is deep and strong, and Nigeria’s economic growth, security, and leadership in Africa will advance our mutual prosperity. Nigeria, West Africa’s largest economy, is among the countries combatting Islamist extremism with help from the United States.
The Nigerian president’s White House visit also follows a scandal that erupted in January when Trump allegedly branded African nations “shithole countries.” The reported remark triggered global outrage and forced the US president to pen a letter reaffirming his commitment to the continent. Nigeria was among the countries included on Trump’s ex-secretary of state Rex Tillerson’s Africa tour last month — though the former Texas oilman truncated the trip just before the US president brutally sacked him. Before returning to Washington, Tillerson had notably promised Nigeria’s support ranging from equipment to intelligence to helping secure the swift release of kidnapped schoolgirls.
