Buhari visits Saudi Arabia, Qatar: Oil price stability high on agenda

President Muhammadu Buhari will begin a week-long official visit to Saudi Arabia and Qatar on Feb. 22, a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, said on Sunday in Abuja.

The statement also said that the President would first fly to Riyadyh for talks on Tuesday with King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and senior officials of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

It stated that the President would be accompanied by a high-powered Federal Government delegation, including Dr Ibe Kachikwu, the Minister of State (Petroleum) and Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC).

It noted that the ongoing efforts by the Federal Government and other members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to achieve greater stability in the price of crude oil exports were expected to be high on the agenda of discussions between the President and the Saudi Monarch.

“Crude oil prices and market stability will also be on the front burner when President Buhari goes on to Doha on Saturday for talks on Sunday with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

“The President is also scheduled to meet with leading Saudi and Qatari businessmen in Riyadh and Doha, and invite them to support his administration’s efforts to revamp the Nigerian economy by taking advantage of the great investment opportunities currently available in Nigeria’s mining, agriculture, power supply, infrastructure, transportation, communications and other sectors.’’

The statement said Buhari’s other engagements in Saudi Arabia included meetings with heads of international financial organisations and multilateral associations.

It stated that before going on to Doha, the President would visit Medina and Makkah to pray for greater peace, prosperity and progress in the country.