Buhari meets with Emir of Saudi Arabia

Pres. Buhari and Emir of Saudi Arabia

Nigeria, Saudi Arabia in crucial top-level talks for raising oil prices
A common threat posed by the insurgency to both countries
King Salman commended Nigeria’s progress in the Boko Haram war
President Muhammadu Buhari, who is currently
on an official visit in Saudi Arabia, has met with the Emir Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud
at the Royal Protocol, Riyadh on February 23, Tuesday.

Crude oil price stability tops the agenda of the meeting between two leaders.
At a bilateral meeting the two leaders admitted the fact that their two economies are tied to oil and that all cannot be well with both countries when the world oil market is unbalanced.
They therefore committed themselves to doing all that is possible to stabilize the market and rebound the oil price.
However, the two leaders did not specify on modalities they plan to adopt in raising oil price.
The two leaders also agreed that the insurgency posed a common threat to their states and would need close cooperation to succeed over the
threats.
President Buhari said: “Even if we are not a part of it, we support you. I must thank the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the recent creation of a coalition to address the menace of
international terrorism. Nigeria will support your efforts in keeping peace and stopping the spread of terror in your region. This is in consonance with our own commitment and on-going efforts in seeking to stamp out Boko Haram terrorists from the West African sub- region and Lake Chad Basin Commission
(LCBC).”
The leaders also touched upon the issue of trade between their states and agreed to give fresh impetus to the joint commission previously established in order to boost commercial and other activities to unify their peoples.
In his remarks, King Salman praised the
progress made by Nigeria in combating
terrorism and pledged to give further support and assistance.
He greeted the support of the Nigerian
government for the new anti-terrorism coalition and implored Buhari to consider its full
membership.
President Buhari will later today meet with heads of the Saudi Business Community.
During the meeting, the Nigerian leader will urge them to come and take advantage of the great investment opportunities currently available in Nigeria.
Oil prices have rushed to their lowest levels in nearly 13 years largely. This is largely blamed on over supply and the OPEC denial to cut production.
His visit follows last week’s agreement
between Saudi Arabia and Russia in Doha to stick to January production levels if others followed.
The president, who arrived the country
yesterday, was received at the airport by governors of Zamfara, Abdulaziz Yari; Kashim
Shettima of Borno; Rauf Aregebesola of Osun; Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun and Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina state.
Buhari is set to leave Saudi Arabia on
Saturday, February 27, for Doha, the Qatarcapital.
The purpose was to promote investment and job creation in Nigeria and throughout West, Central and East Africa, together with other African leaders.