THISDAY

Tinubu Returns to Abuja after Attending AU Summit in Ethiopia

- Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu is back in Abuja after a four-day official trip to Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, where he participat­ed in the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU).

The President, whose official plane, Nigeria Air Force 1, touched down at the Presidenti­al Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Internatio­nal Airport, Abuja, at about 3:36pm, was received by senior government officials, led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federal (SGF), Senator George Akume.

Other top government officials who were at the airport to welcome the President included his Chief of Staff, Hon Femi Gbajabiami­la; the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu; Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma; Minister of State for Defense, Bello Matawalle and the National Chairman of All Progressiv­es Congress (APC), Abdullah Ganduje.

Others were the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Yusuf Bichi; and other security chiefs.

While in Addis Ababa, Tinubu, among others things, was appointed by the AU as its Champion for Human Resources for Health and Community Health Delivery Partnershi­p.

He also joined other African leaders to proffer solutions to the common challenges facing the countries as well as deliberati­ng on refocusing the continenta­l organisati­on for better service deliveries in various areas, including healthcare, commerce and security.

The President used the opportunit­y, while addressing the Assembly on Saturday, to inform the continent that Nigeria was ready to host the African Central Bank on its soil, in accordance with an earlier agreement in the Abuja Treaty.

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