President Muhammadu Buhari has made three foreign trips since he took over power on May 29.
The president had made Niger and Chad his first point of call to discuss a common enemy, Boko Haram. The Islamist sect which started its violent campaign in Nigeria had spread to its neighbours raising the need for a collaborative effort to end the terror.
Buhari’s second trip was to Germany where he attended the G7 Summit. Global terrorism was one of the main discussions at the summit. The Nigerian president had been specially invited by the G7 group, as well as leaders of other countries threatened by insurgency.
The former head of state is expected to be in South Africa this weekend for the African Union Summit which will focus on women empowerment and Africa’s longterm development.
Nigeria’s Consul General in South Africa, Amb. Uche Ajulu-Okeke, said on Tuesday that arrangements had been concluded to host President Buhari when he visits South Africa.
“It is normal for every president who goes to a foreign country for the first time to look for his primary constituents, the Nigerian community in that country. “ In line with this tradition, Mr President being the chief servant for Nigeria, is coming to South Africa to attend the African Union Summit and he will seize the opportunity to make out time from his hectic schedule to address his primary constituents,” she said.
The President of the Nigerian Union, South Africa, Mr Ikechukwu Anyene, also said Nigerians in the nine provinces of South Africa had been mobilised to receive Buhari during his visit.