President Bola Tinubu has returned to Abuja after attending the Joint Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The President and other leaders from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the League of Arab States were in attendance.

The President touched down at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, by 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday and was received by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, ministers, and security heads, among others.

The one-day summit, which was hosted by King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, on Monday, focused on current issues in the Middle East.

In his presentation at the summit, President Tinubu addressed the ongoing Israel-Palestinian conflict, highlighting Nigeria’s call for an immediate ceasefire and a peaceful resolution.

The president also advocated reviving the two-state solution to achieve lasting peace in the region and expressed deep concern over the humanitarian conditions in Gaza.

Explaining Nigeria’s principled and consistent stance on the two-state solution, President Tinubu noted that it stands as a beacon of hope, representing the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians to self-determination and peace. He also warned that “empty condemnations” are not enough to end the conflict in Palestine, which, he said, “has persisted for far too long.”

The President called on parties in the conflict in the Middle East to respect the principles of proportionality and the basic rights of civilians, consistent with global legal and diplomatic frameworks.

The Nigerian leader commended King Salman of Saudi Arabia and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for convening the summit, describing it as a vital opportunity to renew diplomatic efforts and work toward sustainable peace.

He assured the OIC that Nigeria, given its own experiences, would continue to support international efforts that advance peace and stability in the Middle East.

The President was accompanied by key officials, including Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser; Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation; and the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed.

MEANWHILE, with the conclusion of the joint Arab-Islamic summit on Monday, the Nigerian government has urged Saudi Arabia to concretise the proposed $5 billion investment in the country. This followed the assurances by Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, to support the country’s ongoing economic reform programmes.

Bayo Onanuga, the presidential spokesman, said the assurance came when the Crown Prince and President Bola Tinubu met on Monday in Riyadh on the sidelines of the joint Arab-Islamic Summit.
The Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company (SALIC) had already invested $1.24 billion in 2022 to acquire a 35.43 per cent stake in Olam Agri, one of Nigeria’s leading agricultural firms.

The two leaders explored potential areas for cooperation, particularly oil and gas, agriculture, infrastructure and the constitution of Saudi-Nigeria Business Council.

“Nigeria wants an agreement with the Saudi government over a proposed $5 billion bilateral trade facility between the two countries”, Onanuga said.

He added that talks were being held for SALIC to have more stake in the company.