Tinubu Returns to Abuja After Attending AU Summit in Ethiopia

Deji Elumoye in Abuja 

President Bola Tinubu is back in Abuja after a four-day official trip to Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, where he participated in the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU). 

The president, whose official plane, Nigeria Air Force 1, touched down at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 3:36pm, was received by senior government officials, led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume. 

Other top government officials who were at the airport to welcome the president included his Chief of Staff, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu; Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma; Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullah Ganduje. 

Others were the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi; and other security chiefs. 

While in Addis Ababa, President Tinubu, among others things, was appointed by the AU as its Champion for Human Resources for Health and Community Health Delivery Partnership. 

He also joined other African leaders to proffer solutions to the common challenges facing the countries, as well as deliberating on refocusing the continental organization for better service deliveries in various areas, including healthcare, commerce and security. 

The president used the opportunity, while addressing the Assembly on Saturday, to inform the continent that Nigeria is ready to host the African Central Bank on its soil, in accordance with an earlier agreement in the Abuja Treaty.