Here is a summary of the countries President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria has visited as President. There are two trips that he made to the United Kingdom, one on his official vacation and one for medical treatment that are included in this list.[1]
Number of visits
Country
1 visit
Belgium, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, India, Iran, Japan, Liberia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Netherlands, Russia, Rwanda, Poland, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, Sudan, Togo, Turkey
Buhari travels to Niamey along with presidents of Cameroon to discuss the operation against the insurgency created by the Boko Haram in the Lake Chad region. Nigeria committed to relocate their military command centre to Maiduguri and further support the rebuilding of the infrastructure in Borno State.[2]
After the summit in Niger, Buhari makes a one-day visit to Chad to further discuss with Idriss Déby regarding the Boko Haram counter insurgency plan.[3] Buhari is directly welcomed by Idriss Deby at N'Djamena International Airport.
Buhari presented his "wishlist" to the G7 members, in help to combat terrorism in Nigeria and in help to revive the Nigerian economy.[4] Buhari met Angela Merkel, French president François Hollande, Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper, Japanese prime minister Shinzō Abe and World Bank President Jim Yong Kim at the sidelines of the summit.[5]
Buhari attends the 25th African Union Summit on Security. Terrorism was a key discussion topic and Buhari held a number of bilateral talks with various heads of state on the sidelines.[6]
Buhari held talks with various high level US officials and on 20 July had a private meeting with Barack Obama. Buhari sought US help in the combat against terrorism in Nigeria and asked for further military assistance in terms of technology and intelligence.[7][8]
Buhari's visit was focused on the continued fight against Boko Haram in the Lake Chad region and Buhari discusses strategies with Cameroon president Paul Biya. Cameroon also raises the issue that the Cameroonian Military did not enjoy the freedom to enter Nigeria soil to fight the insurgency; while both Niger and Chad did.[9]
Buhari attended Benin's 55 years of independence celebration. He also held talks with Thomas Boni Yayi with regards to the Boko Haram insurgency after Benin increased the number of troops in its task force against the terrorist group.[10]
Buhari makes a one-day official visit to hold bilateral talks with president of Ghana John Dramani Mahama.[11] Buhari tries to discuss the repatriation of Nigerian funds, that allegedly the previous administration had stolen and stashed in Ghana. Further trade and regional security were also discussed.[12]
Buhari's main agenda for the visit was to increase bilateral trade and seek closer ties against the fight against terrorism in Nigeria. Buhari met with François Hollande with regards to oil and defence in Nigeria.[13]
Buhari makes his first visit to the UN headquarters in New York. He holds various bilateral talks with Barack Obama, François Hollande and other high level leaders. Buhari also attended the World Leaders summit on violent extremism.[14]
Buhari attends the Third India Africa Forum summit hosted by Narendra Modi. It was the biggest India-Africa summit ever with representatives from all 54 African countries.[15]
Buhari makes a 2-day state visit to attend the 3rd Gas Exporting Countries Forum. Buhari meets Nigerians living in Iran and had a private meeting with Ali Khamenei.[17]
Buhari attends the Paris Conference on Climate change right after his visit to Malta.[19] Buhari also gives a speech at the conference and promises that Nigeria will cut 20% of its emissions as part of the carbon reduction effort.[20]
Buhari attends the China-Africa Corporation Forum. While in South Africa Buhari discussed with Jacob Zuma regarding the MTN $5.2 billion fine and held talks to strengthen bilateral relationships.[21]
The following is a list of international presidential trips made by Buhari in 2016. Buhari makes a trip to the United Kingdom in February 2016 & June 2016, however, they were not in an official capacity and were for routine medical checkups.[22][23][24]
Buhari attends the 11th summit of the Heads of State of the Niger Basin Authority. The summit focused on the water resources in the area and the new secretary general is elected.[25]
Buhari attends the World Future Energy Summit.[26] Various agreements were also signed with the UAE government, in terms of Trade and share intelligence against terrorism.[27]
26th Summit of African Union Heads of State and Government.
Details
Buhari attends the 26th Summit of African Union Heads of State and Government. The Summit focused on Peace and Security, which has been part of Buhari's main foreign policy agenda.[28]
Buhari arrived at Eldoret International Airport first, to join Uhuru Kenyatta president of Kenya and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud president of Somalia in the memorial service for Kenya Defence Forces soldiers that died in Somalia due to the Al-Shabaab insurgency.[29] This is Buhari's first visit to East Africa and various trade agreements are drafted to promote intra-Africa trade which is the agenda of the Kenyan president. Furthermore, the laws in banking and taxation were reviewed.[30]
Buhari attends the Sharm El Sheikh conference that attracted over 1200 delegates. The conference aimed to build relationships between North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. Buhari's main focus during the summit was focused on eliminating terrorism to improve the investment atmosphere. Buhari also held bilateral talks with Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, president of Egypt with regards to military and economic co-operation.[32]
Buhari was received by high level Saudi officials at the airport. Buhari was in Saudi Arabia to encourage Saudi investment into Nigeria and discuss trade agreements between the countries in terms of Oil and Shipping.[33] Buhari meets the Saudi monarch, King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud. Buhari also visits the two holy Islamic sites of Mecca and Medina.[34]
Buhari visit Qatar for the OPEC meeting. Buhari also meets the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to discuss the recent oil price glut. Buhari stresses the co-operation needed between OPEC and non-OPEC members to sustain oil producing countries economies.[35]
Buhari and his team of Nigerian delegates discussed various deals and agreements totalling over $6 billion. Various Nigerian and Chinese firms through the Nigeria-China business forum created bilateral agreements.[38]
Buhari attends the first ever Anti-corruption summit in the United Kingdom. The summit attracted various heads of state from around Africa. Anti-corruption and terrorism have been the heart of the administrations agenda and the summit was vital to get international support.[39]
President Buhari attends the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development. The conference promoted structural economic transformation through diversification and industrialisation.[41]
Buhari attends the Nigerian business forum in Germany and tries to increase economic ties between Germany and Nigeria. Buhari also held bilateral talks with Angela Merkel to increase economic and military ties between the country. Buhari made the official announcement that 21 Chibok girls were released and that the government was further negotiating the remaining girls release.[43]
Third Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa
Details
Buhari attended the Third Dakar International Forum on peace and Security in Africa. Along with various other leaders. Buhari also met some Nigerian diaspora based in Senegal.[45][46]
The following is a list of international presidential trips made by Buhari in 2017. In January, May and September 2017, Buhari traveled to the United Kingdom, however, they were not in an official capacity and were for routine medical checkups.[48]
Buhari attends the 27th Africa France Summit along with various other African leaders.[51] The trip is made after the president makes a quick stop in The Gambia.
Buhari makes a 4 day state visit to Turkey to discuss bilateral issues with his counterpart Recep Erdoğan. Various issues with regards to security, aid and infrastructure were discussed. After the trip to Ankara, president Buhari attends the ninth D-8 Summit in Istanbul.[53]
President Buhari and King Abdullah II of Jordan co-host the counter-terrorism summit. Both leaders agreed to strengthen counter-terrorism commitments between the two nations to help reduce violent extremism in West Africa.[55]
30th Summit of African Union Heads of State and Government.
Details
Buhari attends the 30th Summit of African Union Heads of State and Government. Buhari was named the 2018 Anti-Corruption Champion.[56] Buhari also met with former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo.[57]
Buhari attends the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting held in London. On the sidelines of the summit held discussions with the Shell Group with regards to increased investments in Nigeria.[58]
Buhari hold bilateral talks with his US counterpart Donald Trump. Buhari was the first African leader to make a state visit to the United States after Trump was elected in 2016. Security agreements and defense contracts were discussed between the two countries.[59][60]
Buhari undertook the first visit by a Nigerian Head of State to Morocco where he held bilateral talks with King Mohammed VI. The two leaders discussed issues with regards to agriculture, fertilized production and their commitment to the regional gas pipeline.[61]
31st Summit of African Union Heads of State and Government.
Details
President Buhari attends the 31st Summit of African Union Heads of State and Government. Buhari spoke on ‘Winning the Fight against Corruption, A Sustainable Path to Africa's Transformation’ during the summit.[62]
President Buhari attends the ECOWAS-ECCAS Heads of State and Government Summit on Peace, Security, Stability and Fight against Terrorism and Violent Extremism. He urged the leaders for stronger inter-regional collaborate on maritime security and anti-terrorism activities.[64]
7th Summit of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation
Details
Buhari along with various other African heads of state attended the China–Africa Cooperation Summit. President Buhari met with president Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the summit.[65]
President Buhari attends the first edition of the Paris Peace Forum along with 60 other world leaders at the invitation of French president Emmanuel Macron.[67]
The following is a list of international presidential trips made by Buhari in 2019. Between May 16–21, Buhari made a personal trip to Saudi Arabia to attend Lesser Hajj.[70]
Buhari make a one-day visit to chad to attend the Extraordinary Session of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Sahel-Saharan States to discuss regional security concerns.[74]
President Buhari attends the seventh TICAD summit in Japan. During the summit, the president held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Various MoUs were signed between the two countries. The president requested that Japan assist Nigeria to combat piracy and illegal fishing.[76]
President Buhari attends the ECOWAS Extraordinary Summit on Counter Terrorism. Leaders from Chad, Cameroon and Mauritania attended the event to formulate a plan to address the spread of extremism in the region.[77]
President Buhari makes a three-day official visit to South Africa where he met with President Cyril Ramaphosa. The visit came after months of xenophobic attacks in South Africa directed against Nigerians and other African migrants.[80]
The following is a list of international presidential trips made by Buhari in 2021. In April 2021, Buhari made a visit to the United Kingdom, however, they were not in an official capacity and were for routine medical checkups.[86]
The following is a list of international presidential trips made by Buhari in 2022. Buhari made two trips to the United Kingdom in May and November 2022, however, they were not in an official capacity and were for routine medical checkups.[92]
African Union Summit on Industrialisation and Economic Diversification and the Extraordinary Session on African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).[108]
Buhari attended the Dakar 2 Summit hosted by the African Development Bank called “Feeding Africa: Food Sovereignty and Resilience” where he was a keynote speaker. The event was attended by various African heads of states.[111]