TheCable

President Muhammadu Buhari has ended his four-day official visit to the United States and has returned to Nigeria.

Sources said he departed the Joint Base Andrews Airport in Washington a few hours after a meeting with representatives of the United States Institute of Peace, Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Atlantic Council, National Democratic Institute, International Republican Institute and International Foundation of Electoral System.

Upon his arrival, Buhari was received by Yemi Osinbajo, the vice-president; Solomon Arase, the inspector-general of police and some top government officials.

Coincidentally, the weather condition at the time of his arrival was similar to that of the period he left the country. The president’s aides had to use umbrella to shelter him from the rain just like they did on Sunday.

During his stay at the US, Buhari met with President Barack Obama, Joe Biden, the vice-president; John Kerry, the secretary of state and other top government officials of the country.

The president also met with Nigerians in the Diaspora.

Obama, who showered encomiums on Buhari when both leaders met, promised to support the new government in Nigeria in the areas of fighting corruption and insurgency.

“President Buhari comes into office with a reputation of integrity and a very clear agenda and that is to make sure that he is bringing safety and security and peace to his country,” he had said.

“He is very concerned about the spread of Boko Haram and the violence that has taken place there and the atrocities that have taken place there and he has a very clear agenda of defeating Boko Haram and extremists of all sorts inside his country. And he has a very clear agenda with respect to rooting out the corruption that has too often held back the economic growth and prosperity of his country. On both these issues, we’re looking forward to hearing more about his plans and how the United States can partner with Nigeria.”

Buhari also met with Loretta Lynch, attorney-general of the US, to discuss how her country could assist Nigeria recover its stolen assets.

Before his return to the country, the president reunited with his course mates from the US war college class of 1980.

His next foreign trip is to Cameroon on July 29, and is expected to hold talks with President Paul Biya on how both countries can share strategies in the fight against insurgency.