Buhari pins high hopes on talks with Obama

President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on Wednesday expressed the hope that his forthcoming meeting with President Barack Obama would further strengthen bilateral ties between Nigeria and the U.S.

At a meeting with the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, Mr Anthony Blinken, Buhari said that his talks with Obama would also give much needed impetus to his administration’s efforts to overcome the challenge of terrorism.

The president said Nigeria also looked forward to greater support from the U.S. for the multinational Joint Task Force being mobilised against Boko Haram.

Buhari said that Nigeria and other Gulf of Guinea states would welcome more cooperation from the U.S. to enhance maritime security in the Gulf and curb crude oil theft.

On behalf of Obama, the envoy commiserated with Buhari and Nigerians on the recent loss of lives in terrorist attacks.

Blinken said that he was convinced that Buhari’s election would further expand the frontiers of the existing relationship between Nigeria and the U.S.

He assured the president that the U.S. would be ready to discuss all matters put forward by Nigeria during his visit to Washington DC.