TheCable

President Bola Tinubu has departed Nigeria for Nairobi, Kenya, to participate in the fifth mid-year coordination meeting (5thMYCM) of the African Union (AU), the regional economic communities (RECs), the regional mechanisms (RMs), and the AU member states.

The president left Abuja through the presidential wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, accompanied by Femi Gbajabiamila, his chief of staff and Dele Alake, his special adviser on special duties, communication and strategy.

In a statement on Friday, Alake had said Tinubu, who was elected as chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on July 9, will join heads of state and government, foreign ministers of the AU member-states, and high-level dignitaries at the mid-year meeting, scheduled for Sunday.

The president is expected to present a report on the status of regional integration in ECOWAS, highlighting actions carried out during the period under review by ECOWAS institutions, member-states, the private sector, and other stakeholders.

The meeting seeks to deepen integration through trade, free movement of persons, investment promotion, infrastructure development, peace, security and stability.

“The 5th MYCM, which is convening under the AU’s theme for 2023, christened ‘Acceleration of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) implementation’ will bring together the Bureau of the AU assembly, comprising the heads of state and government from Comoros, Botswana, Burundi, and Senegal, as well as the leaders of the eight RECs,” Alake had said.

The president is expected to return to the country after the meeting is concluded.