Buhari Travels To United Arab Emirates On Condolence Visit, To Meet New UAE President

President Muhammadu Buhari will on Thursday depart Abuja for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following the death of the former president, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Buhari Departs For UAE

KanyiDaily recalls that the UAE Federal Supreme Council had elected Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as the new president of the country.

In a statement on Thursday, Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said the president is expected to meet Sheikh Mohamed to convey his condolences on the passing of his half-brother, Khalifa.

The statement read, “The President, who will depart Abuja on Thursday, will also extend his congratulations to the new President, renewing bonds of the longstanding friendship between Nigeria and the UAE.

“The President, in an earlier congratulatory message to the new UAE leader, had reaffirmed Nigeria’s cordial relationship with the country, noting that the cooperation between both governments has helped Nigeria in tracking down illegal assets and tracing terrorist funds.

“Under the new leadership, President Buhari looks forward to a bigger and stronger partnership for peace, stability and prosperity of both countries.

“President Buhari will be accompanied by the Minister of State Foreign Affairs, Amb. Zubairu Dada, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello, and the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika.

“Other members of his delegation are the National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Monguno (retd) and the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.

“The President is expected back in the country on Saturday.”

KanyiDaily had reported that Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan died on Friday, May 13, at the age of 73, after battling illness for several years.