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President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to attend the 63rd independence anniversary of the Republic of Benin today, which falls on Tuesday, as confirmed by his spokesman, Dele Alake.
The President, who holds the dual position of being the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States, has been extended an invitation by President Patrice Talon of the Republic of Benin.
During the one-day visit, the President will be accompanied by six governors, as stated by Alake in a Tuesday morning statement.
The governors accompanying the President are as follows: Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq (Kwara), Nasir Idris (Kebbi), and Mohammed Bago (Niger).
The initial meeting between President Tinubu and President Talon occurred on the sidelines of the summit on the New Global Financing Pact in Paris, France. Subsequent meetings took place at the 63rd Ordinary session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS in Guinea-Bissau and more recently at the State House in Abuja, where the Benin Republic President, along with leaders from three other West African nations, invited President Tinubu to attend the anniversary.
“President Tinubu drew the attention of the Beninese leader to the crucial need for reviewing and strengthening cultural, trade, and economic relations between their two countries. The discussion emphasized the significance of joint border patrols by the Customs and the harmonization of regulations on the frontlines,” the statement added.
In a recent event, Talon visited Aso Rock where he had a meeting with Tinubu. Following the meeting, the Benin Republic deployed a team to Niamey, Niger’s capital, to address a hostage situation involving President Mohamed Bazoum.
This visit marks Talon’s second appearance at Aso Rock during the Tinubu administration. He previously visited on July 18, along with two other colleague-presidents, Niger’s Bazoum and Guinea-Bissau’s Umaro Sissoco Embalo.
