Buhari presides over FEC, leaves for Turkey

Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday traveled to Turkey soon after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting which he presided.

The FEC meeting which started at about 10am was attended by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, acting Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Habiba Lawal, and cabinet ministers.

Immediately after the meeting, the President flew to Turkey where he will be attending the D-8 meeting.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said that Buhari would participate in the ninth D-8 Summit in Istanbul, Turkey, on October 20.
Adesina said prior to the summit, Buhari, at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, would be on working visit to Ankara, the Turkish capital.

He said that the President would during the visit have a private discussion with his Turkish counterpart, while delegations from both countries would hold discussions in various fields including defence cooperation, security, educational and migration issues.

According to the presidential aide, the Nigerian leader will also visit the Grand National Assembly of the Republic of Turkey in Ankara, where he will meet with the Turkish speaker, Ismail Kahraman.

Adesina said Buhari would also use the occasion to bolster warm and growing ties across broad range of areas of cooperation with leaders of the D8-member countries.

The D8-member countries include Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan and Turkey.