JUST IN: Tinubu returns to Abuja after France, South Africa trips

The Airbus A330 which conveyed Tinubu, arrived at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at 9.10pm.

This concludes his 33rd foreign trip since assuming office 18 months ago.

Tinubu was in France from November 27 to December 1, 2024, for a three-day state visit on the invitation of his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron.

At the Palais des Elysée in Paris, Tinubu and Macron signed two agreements to ensure a partnership on developing critical infrastructure and the long-term sustenance of agriculture and food security.

They also witnessed the signing of the agreement by the United Bank for Africa Group Chairman Tony Elumelu and Mr. Antoine Armand, the French Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry for the bank to commence operations in Paris.

Zenith Bank also inaugurated its services in the country during the visit.

On Monday, December 2, Tinubu departed France for South Africa.

He, alongside President Cyril Ramaphosa, co-chaired the 11th Bi-National Commission between Nigeria and South Africa in Cape Town.

At the opening of the event, on Tuesday, the President argued that Nigeria and South Africa share a collective destiny to collaborate for the good of the African continent.

Therefore, he said both countries must intensify cooperation across various sectors, warning that the implementation, not the mere signing of MoUs, constitutes the success of the partnership.

He also sought South Africa’s support to ensure Nigeria’s membership in the G20 nations, a premier international forum for economic cooperation, bringing together the world’s major advanced and emerging economies.

In response, Ramaphosa announced that South Africa will “keenly” support the bid of Nigeria, “a valued sister country,” to become a member of the G20 club of the world’s major economies.

Ramaphosa said other key African countries should also be admitted to the club “so that we can raise the voice from Africa, the neglected continent for the longest time.”

He noted that South Africa had been the lone voice for Africa in the G20 before the admission of the African Union last year after his country had lobbied for it to become a member.

Nigeria and South Africa also operationalised the Joint Ministerial Advisory Council on Industry, Trade and Investment to enhance economic cooperation between the two leading African economies.

Tinubu was received at the airport by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, among other senior government officials.

So far, the president has logged 139 days abroad, visited 17 countries, and accumulated about 304 flight hours.

Countries visited include Paris, France (five times); Malabo, Equatorial Guinea; London, the United Kingdom (four times); Bissau, Guinea-Bissau (twice); Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Nairobi, Kenya; Porto Norvo, Benin Republic; The Hague, Netherlands; Pretoria and Cape Town, South Africa; Accra, Ghana; New Delhi, India; Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates; New York, the United States of America; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (twice); Berlin, Germany; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Dakar, Senegal and Doha, Qatar.

https://punchng.com/just-in-tinubu-returns-to-abuja-after-france-south-africa-trips/