President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will, on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, grace the 63rd independence anniversary celebration of the Republic of Benin.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the confirmation came via a statement released by Presidential Spokesman Dele Alake on Monday.
As the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the statement has it that President Tinubu has been appointed as the Special Guest of President Patrice Talon in the event.
The visit will mark the second time the two leaders meet, following their initial interaction during the summit on the New Global Financing Pact in Paris, France. Subsequently, they met at the 63rd Ordinary session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS held in Guinea-Bissau and, more recently, at the State House, Abuja, where the Benin Republic President honoured the invitation to President Tinubu.
To accompany him in the one-day visit will be six governors: Ogun’s Dapo Abiodun, Lagos’ Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Oyo’s Seyi Makinde, Kwara’s AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq, Kebbi’s Nasir Idris, and Niger’s Mohammed Umar Bago including the president’s aides.
Full statement reads:
Tinubu, six governors head to Benin Republic on Tuesday
President Bola Tinubu will on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, honour an invitation to attend the 63rd independence anniversary of the Republic of Benin.
The President, who is also the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States, will be the Special Guest of President Patrice Talon at the ceremony.
President Tinubu had first met with Talon on the sidelines of the summit on New Global Financing Pact in Paris, France, later at the 63rd Ordinary session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS held in Guinea-Bissau and more recently at the State House, Abuja along with leaders of three other West African nations, where the Benin Republic President invited him for the anniversary.
President Tinubu had drawn the attention of the Beninese leader to the need to review and strengthen cultural, trade and economic relations between their two countries, highlighting joint border patrols by the Customs and harmonizing regulations on the frontlines.
The President will be accompanied on the one-day visit by six governors, who were invited by President Talon, and his personal aides.
The six governors are: Ogun, Dapo Abiodun; Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Oyo, Seyi Makinde; Kwara, AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq; Kebbi, Nasir Idris, and
Niger, Mohammed Umar Bago.
Dele Alake
Special Adviser,
Special Duties, Communications & Strategy
July 31, 2023
