President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria has met President Vladimir Putin of Russia in the first ever Russia-Africa Summit holding in Sochi, Russia. The two-day summit will has more than 40 African Heads of States in attendance with representatives from the other countries.
In the opening session, Putin said, ‘We currently export to Africa $25 billion worth of food, which is more than we export in arms, at $15 billion. In the next five years I think we should be able to double this trade at least.’ Russia seeks to have stronger relationships and more positive ties with Africa via the summit.
The ambassador of Nigeria to Russia had earlier stated that President Muhammadu Buhari hoped to sign a military training and weapons co-operation agreement at the summit’s bilateral meeting with President Putin on Wednesday. This is to help the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria’s restive north-east.
