Breaking: Tinubu’s US Trip Aborted, To Attend G-20 Meeting In South Africa

Nigerian president, Bola Tinubu’s reported trip to the United States to resolve the diplomatic frictions between his government and the Donald Trump’s administration will not go ahead as planned.

Top sources informed this newspaper that discussions between the Tinubu’s presidency and the White House were already ongoing “but a face-to-face meeting is not yet on the cards.”

The presidency source noted that the upcoming G-20 Summit in South Africa is being considered for Tinubu’s attendance and as the viable opportunity for the Nigerian president to have talks with President Trump.

The source said, “The meeting between President Bola Tinubu and Donald Trump is not going as reported. No plans are in place to go to Washington DC; conversations between the US and Nigeria are ongoing but a face-to-face meeting is not yet on the cards.

“Rather there is an invitation on the cards for Tinubu to attend the G-20 summit on November 20 in Durban, South Africa where a likely meeting between Tinubu and Trump is a possibility.”

Earlier report has it that President Tinubu and United States President Trump were expected to meet in the coming days, either at the State House in Abuja or the White House in Washington, to further strengthen cooperation between both nations on counterterrorism and global security.

This was according to a statement issued by Daniel Bwala, Media Aide to President Tinubu, adding that both leaders share a common vision in combating terrorism and protecting humanity from violent extremism.

Bwala had made the assertion after Trump designated Nigeria as a ‘country of particular concern.’

“Both President @officialABAT and President @realDonaldTrump have shared interest in the fight against insurgency and all forms of terrorism against humanity,” Bwala had said.

He noted that the Trump administration had extended significant support to Nigeria’s security efforts, which President Tinubu has effectively built upon.

“President Trump has assisted Nigeria a lot by authorising the sale of arms to Nigeria and President Tinubu has adequately utilized the opportunity in the fight against terrorism for which we have massive results to show for it,” the statement added.

Bwala further stated that any perceived differences between the two leaders on the nature of terrorist targets in Nigeria would be addressed during their upcoming engagement.

“As for the differences as to whether terrorists in Nigeria target only Christians or in fact all faiths and no faiths, the differences if they exist would be discussed and resolved by the two leaders when they meet in the coming days, either in State House or White House,” he said.

The Nigerian presidency’s comments came as President Trump warned that he would deploy the U.S. military to Nigeria if the “killing of Christians” in the country does not stop.