German Chancellor Angela Merkel a few hours ago arrived Nigeria via Abuja, where she was received by President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to the presidency the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel becomes the 8th World Leader visiting President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House in Abuja in the last 8 weeks, after British Prime Minister, Theresa May on Wednesday.
Both President Muhammadu Buhari and German Chancellor Angela Merkel after she was welcomed by the President of Nigeria, went straight for a press conference, where both leaders briefed the press.
The German Chancellor Angela Merkel who just like her counterpart from the United Kingdom, British Prime Minister Theresa May, is on a tour of some selected African countries. She has been to Niger, Senegal, Ghana and now Nigeria, where she talked about the uncontrolled and unchecked migration of men, women, and Children across the Mediterranean, that has seen record deaths for the last decade, and counting.
According to the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, her visit to these West African countries, is to see how leaders of these countries can work together with Germany and the European Union to reduce if not wipe out totally the issue of illegal migration, which much of it is for economic reasons, and just small percentage due to wars and civil unrest.
Given that West Africa and mostly Nigeria account for over 50% of those engaged in illegal migration, she and her team have decided that while the European Union is working on how to manage the situation, there was also a need for a collaboration with the government of African countries, especially, leaders of West African countries to find a lasting solution to the problem, amongst other things, at their own end.
President Muhammadu Buhari whose government have been doing all it can to return thousands of Nigerians stranded in Libya back home, condemned illegal migration, saying they do not support it. He said:
“This administration is very clear: we do not support illegal migration. But we will also do everything to help bring all stranded Nigerians back home.”
President Buhari after his meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel will departs for China for the 7th Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) which has been scheduled to hold between September 3 – 4, 2018 in Beijing, while the government in collaboration with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Union continue to find a possible solution to the iligal migration to which Nigeria is ranked number one, with Edo State ranking as number one in Nigeria, since it is the entry route.
…more on the President’s press conference soon to come…