Buhari Returns from Spain

Pat Stevens/

President Muhammadu Buhari this afternoon returned to Abuja after a three-day state visit to Spain.

The president’s aircraft took off from the Torrejon Airbase, Madrid, at about 8.20am local time for Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

He met with President Pedro Sanchez as well as the Spanish monarch, His Majesty King Felipe VI, on Wednesday.

At the meeting with Sanchez, Nigeria and Spain signed nine Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding covering a Treaty on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters and the transfer of sentenced persons and extradition.

Others were on economic and commercial cooperation, tourism, sports, health, the fight against COVID-19 and science and innovation.

Yesterday, Buhari attended a Political and Business Leaders Forum, jointly organised by the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, the Ministry of Trade, and the Confederation of Employers.

At the meeting, the Nigerian leader alerted European countries to look toward Africa for a solution to the resources supply challenges currently facing the global economy.

He also challenged Spanish investors to take advantage of Nigeria’s tax-free environment and limitless expatriate quota at the nation’s Free Trade Zones to boost Nigerian-Spanish trade and economic opportunities.

According to him, for quite a number of decades, Spain has been one of Nigeria’s most important trade partners.

He said Spain had been a major importer of Nigeria’s crude oil, noting that Nigeria’s exports to Spain stood at $4.8 billion in 2020 whilst Spain’s exports to Nigeria increased from $97.2 million in 1995 to $517 million in 2020.

Also, yesterday, Buhari hosted representatives of the Nigerian community in Spain, including professional footballers and some Spanish investors with interests in Nigeria.

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