In what appears to be total disregard to deluge of criticism pouring from the cross section of populace on his frequent trips outside Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari will again depart Abuja today for Riyadh, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to attend the third edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII).

Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s spokesman who disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Sunday said that event was organised by Saudi’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Shehu said the event themed, `What’s Next for Global Business?’ will hold from Oct. 29 to Oct. 31, and would focus on three key pillars: Sustainable Future, Technology for Good and Advanced Society.

Shehu said the three-day event would be held under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia and chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz.

”Given the increased investor confidence in Nigeria’s economy, President Buhari will use the occasion to speak about the economic opportunities that abound in Nigeria, the effectiveness of his administration’s policies to improve the business environment and invite investors to the country.

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”It is noteworthy that the total value of capital inflow into Nigeria increased from 12 billion dollars in the first half-year of 2018 to 14 billion dollars for the same period in 2019,” the presidential aide stated.

According to Shehu, the Nigerian delegation will leverage on the resources in Saudi’s PIF, which aims at becoming one of the largest and most impact sovereign wealth funds in the world.

The delegation, he further stated, would seek foreign investments in critical projects in the country’s oil and gas sector, particularly the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas Pipeline – the 614 km-long natural gas pipeline currently being developed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

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”Nigerian officials will also take advantage of the summit to accelerate discussions on the planned interest of the Saudi Oil Company, Aramco, to revamp Nigeria’s refineries and new investments in the oil and gas sector,” he said.

According to the organisers, the high-profile conference has proven to be a substantial international platform for expert-led debate among investors, innovators and governments as well as economic leaders, with the power to shape the future of global investment, since it was launched in 2017.

The conference is focused on utilizing investment to drive growth opportunities, enable innovation and disruptive technologies, and address global challenges.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that more than 4,000 delegates from over 90 countries are expected to participate in the FII 2019, which will also host 12 workshops on different topics including cities, energy, climate, health, data, mobility, food, travel, sports, shopping and youth.

It reported that the President, according to Shehu, will be accompanied by Governors Babagana Zulum of Borno State, Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi and Aminu Masari of Katsina State.

Also on the entourage are, Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo, Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva and Minister of Communications, Ibrahim Pantami.

Others include the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd), Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ahmed Rufa’i Abubakar, and the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kolo Kyari.

Shehu stated that, after the investors’ conference in Riyadh, President Buhari would proceed to Makkah, accompanied by close personal aides, to perform the Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) before returning to Abuja.

Buhari has been facing barrage of criticism on his frequent trips abroad. Controversy generated by his trip to Russia last week is yet to die down, yet, he’s embarking on another, barely a week after returning to the country.

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