Buhari Travels to Makkah, Hours after His Inauguration for Second Term.

President Muhammadu Buhari would today (May 30) depart Abuja to attend the Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

The 14th session of the OIC Summit Conference, scheduled to hold on May 31, would be hosted by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and attended by Heads of State and Governments of Member States.

According to the

OIC secretariat, the summit to be convened under the theme, “Makkah al-Mukarramah Summit: Hand in Hand toward the Future,” seeks to develop a unified stance on events in the Islamic world.

Buhari is expected to address the forum and underscore the need for member countries to unite and work together to combat common challenges such as terrorism and violent extremism.

The President would also push forward themes that have been at the forefront of his domestic and international priorities, including reviving the Lake Chad Basin, investing in Nigeria to create jobs and financing for development.

The Nigerian leader would also hold bilateral meetings with world leaders to promote increased cooperation and collaboration on issues of mutual concern.

Buhari, who is expected to return to the country on June 2nd, would be accompanied by Governors Mohammed Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State, Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State and Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State.

Also on the delegation are: the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Mustapha Suleiman; Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Ahmed Rufa’i Abubakar; Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr. Isa Ali Pantami; and the Chairman, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Abdullahi Mukthar.

Ahead of the Summit, was a preparatory meeting in Jeddah meant to adopt the draft agenda and work programme for the Summit.

Issues such as Palestine and the Arab-Israeli conflict; combating terrorism and violent extremism; the humanitarian situation in the Muslim world; promotion of scientific cooperation, among others are on the agenda.

Buhari becomes the third Nigerian leader to attend the OIC conference in person, after the late Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

It would be recalled that Nigeria joined the OIC in 1986 and has held various positions in the organisation.