Tinubu welcomes Benin, Niger, Guinea-Bissau Presidents at Aso Rock Villa
On Tuesday, the Presidents of Benin, Niger, and Guinea-Bissau arrived at the Aso Rock Villa to visit their Nigerian counterpart, Bola Tinubu.
President Patrice Talon of Benin, Mohamed Bazoum of Niger, and Umaro Embaló of Guinea-Bissau were warmly received by Tinubu at the forecourt of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Shortly after their arrival, Tinubu led the West African leaders into a private session at his office.
The specific agenda of Tuesday’s meeting has not been made public, but it comes merely nine days after President Tinubu assumed the Chairmanship of the Authority of Heads of State of the Economic Community of West African States.
During the meeting, the leaders are expected to discuss critical issues relating to security and economic development in the sub-region.
Tinubu is likely to reiterate his firm stance on defending democracy in the area, given the concerning spate of coups in recent years.
Guinea-Bissau, for instance, had survived an attempted coup in February 2022. However, civilian governments in Guinea, Mali, and Burkina Faso were toppled between 2019 and 2022.
The meeting holds significance as it provides an opportunity for the regional leaders to address shared concerns and collaborate on finding solutions for the betterment of West Africa.
