Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed driving President Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, for the inauguration of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for another five-year term in office.
The Nigerian leader, who was accorded a full guard of honour by the Ethiopian National Defence Force on his arrival, was received by Prime Minister Ahmed.
The Prime Minister thereafter personally drove President Buhari to a newly-built expansive friendship park for a private dinner, which the President of Ethiopia, Sahle-Work Zewde, and the President of Senegal, Macky Sall, also attended.
In Addis Ababa, the President is expected to deliver a goodwill message at the inauguration event, scheduled to hold at the historic Meskel Square.
Presidents of Djibouti, Kenya, South Sudan, Senegal, Somalia, Uganda, and the Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo, have also arrived to bless the inauguration of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union, Mr. Victor Adeleke, told reporters that President Buhari’s visit was an indication of his commitment to strengthening democracy in Africa.
He explained that the visit would also afford President Buhari the opportunity to strengthen bilateral co-operation between Nigeria and Ethiopia.
A State House statement says Nigeria and Ethiopia are working on several areas of bilateral co-operation, particularly in the areas of Defence, Aviation, Science and Technology, Industry, Trade and Investment, Agriculture, Health, Youth and Sports Develpment, Communication, Information, media, as well as extending assistance to Ethiopia through the Technical Aid Corps programme.
Reporting by Bello Wakili and Abdullah Bello;Editing by Tina Oyinsan