Buhari in virtual conference with ECOWAS leaders

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari and other West African leaders are holding a virtual 58th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS.

Buhari participated from the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The meeting started at about 11.00am with some cabinet members in attendance.

They include the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, Interior, Ra’uf Aregbeshola and the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari.

Others in attendance at the meeting were National Security Adviser to the President, retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina and some officials from Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Buhari in Sept. 2020 during the 57th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held in Niamey, Niger Republic, presented Special Report on COVID-19.

The Nigerian leader was appointed the ECOWAS Champion on the Fight against COVID-19 during the Extraordinary Virtual Summit of ECOWAS on April 23.

As a champion, Buhari was expected to coordinate the sub-regional response against the pandemic.

Regional issues including the second wave of the pandemic and the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines would dominate discussions at today’s meeting.