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The meeting between Antony Blinken, US secretary of state and President Bola Tinubu, in Abuja, has been rescheduled for today, Tuesday.
Blinken is now scheduled to meet Tinubu in Abuja later this evening as part of his official engagements in Nigeria, according to Presidential Villa sources
No reason was however advanced for the changes in the time scheduled for the visit.
BusinessDay had earlier reported that issues of security, health and Climate change will be discussed by the two leaders in furtherance of the US/ Africa summit.
BusinessDay gathered that Blinken who arrives Nigeria by about 4PM Nigeria time today, will meet with President Tinubu later in the day, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja
Blinken is currently on tour of four Africa nations that will take him to Cap Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Angola, from the 21 to 26 of this January
Matthew Miller, Spokesperson of the US Department of state, had earlier announced Blinken’s planned visit to the four countries.
Miller said the visit is aimed at highlighting the progression of the United States’ relationship with the continent after the US–Africa leaders summit in 2022.
According to him ” Throughout the trip, the secretary will highlight how the United States has accelerated the U.S/Africa partnership since the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, including in areas such as climate, food, and health security,”
The visit will also allow both countries to discuss on future-focused economic partnership, and how the United States is investing in infrastructure in Africa to boost two-way trade, create jobs at home and on the continent, and help Africa compete in the global marketplace.
Additionally, the Secretary will advance security partnerships based on shared values such as respect for human rights, promotion of democracy, and expansion of the rule of law.
He will also reaffirm U.S. commitment to coastal West African partners through the Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability, U.S. partnership with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to address regional challenges, and U.S. efforts to support African leadership in de-escalating tensions and adopting diplomatic solutions to the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Miller noted that the United States has continued to reaffirm its sustained commitment to high-level U.S. engagement with Africa.
