BUHARI SET FOR WASHINGTON, TO STRENGHTEN BILATERAL RELATIONS

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

At a meeting the United States Deputy Secretary of State, Mr. Anthony J. Blinken, President Buhari said that his talks with President Obama will also give a much needed impetus to his administration's efforts to overcome the challenge of terrorism.
The President told Mr. Blinken that Nigeria also looks forward to greater support from the United States for the multinational Joint Task Force being mobilized against Boko Haram.
President Buhari said that Nigeria and other Gulf of Guinea nations will also welcome more cooperation from the United States to enhance maritime security in the Gulf and curb crude oil theft.
On behalf of President Obama, Mr. Blinken commiserated with President Buhari and all Nigerians over the recent loss of lives in terrorist attacks.
The Under Secretary of State said that he was convinced that President Buhari's election will further expand the frontiers of the existing relationship between Nigeria and the United States.
He assured President Buhari that the United States government will be ready to discuss all matters put forward by the Nigerian government during the President's visit to Washington DC.