President Tinubu jets out for AU meeting

VAM News Update

President Bola Tinubu will travel to Nairobi, Kenya, on Saturday to participate in the fifth mid-year coordination meeting (5thMYCM) of the African Union (AU), the regional economic communities (RECs), the regional mechanisms (RMs), and the AU member states.

On July 9, Tinubu was elected as chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

In a statement, Dele Alake, special adviser to the president on special duties, communications and strategy, said as ECOWAS chairman, Tinubu will join heads of state and government, foreign ministers of the AU member-states, and high-level dignitaries at the mid-year meeting,

The meeting is scheduled for Sunday.

“The president will present a report on the status of regional integration in ECOWAS, highlighting actions carried out during the period under review by ECOWAS institutions, member-states, the private sector, and other stakeholders to deepen integration through trade, free movement of persons, investment promotion, infrastructure development, peace, security and stability,” Alake said.

“The 5th MYCM, which is convening under the AU’s theme for 2023, christened “Acceleration of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) implementation” will bring together the Bureau of the AU assembly, comprising the heads of state and government from Comoros, Botswana, Burundi, and Senegal, as well as the leaders of the eight RECs.

“These regional economic communities include ECOWAS, chaired by Nigeria; the East African Community (EAC); the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD); the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA); the Southern African Development Community (SADC); the Community of Sahel–Saharan States (CEN SAD); the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA); and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).

“The meeting will also involve the African Union Commission and the RMs.”

Alake added that the president will be accompanied by senior government officials.

Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria after the meeting.