President Muhammadu Buhari departs Abuja today for an official working visit to the United States (US) on the invitation of President Donald Trump.

A statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, yesterday, said Buhari would hold bilateral meeting with Trump and have a working lunch on Monday, next week. 

The meeting is to discuss ways to enhance the strategic partnership between the two countries and to advance shared priorities, such as promoting economic growth, fighting terrorism and other threats to peace and security.

The meeting would further deepen the US-Nigeria relationship, as the US considers Nigeria’s economic growth, security and leadership in Africa to be critical aspects of their strategic partnership.

Later in the day, Buhari would meet with a group of business persons in agriculture and agro-processing, dairy and animal husbandry.

Ahead of the visit, meetings have been scheduled on April 26 and 27 between senior Nigerian government officials and executives of major US companies in the areas of agriculture, aviation and transportation.

In the area of aviation, the Nigerian officials would be meeting with Boeing, the largest aircraft manufacturer in the world, on the National Carrier project; discuss with large equipment manufacturers, with focus on harvesting and post-harvesting equipment; and meet with the GE-led consortium for the implementation of the interim phase of the narrow gauge rail concession.