President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to depart Abuja on Sunday for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he will participate in the Joint Arab-Islamic Summit.
This gathering, which is scheduled to begin on Monday, November 11, 2024, aims to address the escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement released on Saturday.
According to Onanuga, the summit will be held at the invitation of Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This year’s event follows a similar summit hosted in Riyadh last year, highlighting a continued commitment to addressing regional stability.
In his address at the summit, President Tinubu is expected to present Nigeria’s stance on the ongoing Israel-Palestinian conflict. Emphasizing Nigeria’s call for a ceasefire, he will advocate for “an immediate halt to hostilities and stress the urgent need for peaceful negotiations to end the conflict,” Onanuga stated.
The President will also use the summit as a platform to renew Nigeria’s endorsement of a two-state solution. He will urge global leaders to intensify efforts toward achieving a lasting peace in the region, stating that the two-state framework remains a viable pathway to resolving the longstanding conflict.
Key officials accompanying President Tinubu to the summit include the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar; the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris; and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed. Their presence reflects the significance Nigeria places on the summit’s discussions and outcomes.
Onanuga further noted that following the summit’s conclusion, President Tinubu is expected to return to Abuja.
