President Muhammadu Buhari this afternoon departed for France on a 3-day official visit. The Presidential Jet left the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport miutes ago.

President Buhari was excorted to the airport by top government functionaries. The accompanying photo shows him waving from the Presidential Jet shortly before the doors were shut and the big bird taxied for take-off.

President Buhari is accompanied on the visit by the National Security Adviser, Major-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd.), the Permanent Secretaries in the Federal Ministries of Defence, Finance, Agriculture, Foreign Affairs, Industry, Trade and Investment as well as the Chief Executives of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council.

The visit, at the invitation of President Francois Hollande, will be used for bilateral talks to focus on the further strengthening and consolidation of ongoing bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and France in the areas of defence, security, trade and investments.