President Buhari departs Abuja for AU Summit in Niger

President Muhammadu Buhari has left Abuja for Niger to attend the African Union Summit holding in Niamey, the country’s capital.

The President departed the country on Saturday morning to join other African leaders.

Buhari’s departure was confirmed in a tweet by the Federal Government, @AsoRock.

Government of Nigeria

✔@AsoRock

President @MBuhari departed Abuja this morning for Niamey, Niger Republic to attend the African Union (AU) Summit, scheduled to hold on July 7. #AUSummit

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11:57 AM - Jul 6, 2019

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The President is expected to participate in the 12th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union on African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the First Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the AU and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in Niamey.

The Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union is expected to launch the operational instruments of the Agreement establishing AfCFTA.

The instruments include AfCFTA Rules of Origin, Tariff Concession Portals, Portal on Monitoring and Elimination of Non-Tariff Barriers, Digital Payments and Clearing Systems and African Trade and Observatory Dashboard.

Prior to the Summit, the Buhari Administration had embarked on extensive consultations with stakeholders, culminating in the submission of the report by the Presidential Committee to Assess Impact and Readiness of Nigeria to join the AfCFTA.

The committee had recommended that Nigeria should sign the Agreement which aims to boost intra-African trade.

President Buhari will sign the AfCFTA Agreement on the margins of the AU meeting in Niamey.