Muhammadu Buhari became President following the 2015 Nigerian general election. The following is a list of international presidential trips made by Muhammadu Buhari as the 15th President of Nigeria.
President Muhammadu Buhari has travelled out of Nigeria a total of 51 times since assuming office in 2015.
Summary of international trips Here is a summary of the countries President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria has visited as President. There are two trips that he made to the United Kingdom, one on his official vacation and one for medical treatment that are included in this list.
Number of visitsCountry1 visitBelgium, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, India, Iran, Japan, Liberia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Netherlands, Russia, Rwanda, Poland, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, Sudan, Togo, Turkey2 visitsBenin, China, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Jordan, Morocco, Qatar3 visitsChad, Ghana, Kenya, Niger, South Africa, The Gambia, United Arab Emirates4 visitsSenegal5(+) visitsEthiopia (6), France (5), Saudi Arabia (5), United Kingdom (5), United States (11)
2015 The following is a list of international presidential trips made by Buhari in 2015. Country Areas visited Date(s) Purpose(s) NotesNiamey3 JuneAnti-Boko Haram summitBuhari travels to Niamey along with presidents of Cameroon to discuss the operation against the insurgency created by the Boko Haram in the Lake Chad region. Nigeria committed to relocate their military command centre to Maiduguri and further support the rebuilding of the infrastructure in Borno State.N'Djamena4 JuneState VisitAfter the summit in Niger, Buhari makes a one-day visit to Chad to further discuss with Idriss Déby regarding the Boko Haram counter insurgency plan. Buhari is directly welcomed by Idriss Deby at N'Djamena International Airport.Munich7 – 8 June42nd G7 summitBuhari presented his "wishlist" to the G7 members, in help to combat terrorism in Nigeria and in help to revive the Nigerian economy. Buhari met Angela Merkel, French president François Hollande, Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper, Japanese prime minister Shinzō Abe and World Bank President Jim Yong Kim at the sidelines of the summit.Johannesburg12 – 13 June25th African Union SummitBuhari attends the 25th African Union Summit on Security. Terrorism was a key discussion topic and Buhari held a number of bilateral talks with various heads of state on the sidelines.Washington, D.C.19 – 23 JulyState VisitBuhari held talks with various high level US officials and on 20 July had a private meeting with Barack Obama. Buhari sought US help in the combat against terrorism in Nigeria and asked for further military assistance in terms of technology and intelligence. Yaoundé29 – 30 JulyState VisitBuhari's visit was focused on the continued fight against Boko Haram in the Lake Chad region and Buhari discusses strategies with Cameroon president Paul Biya. Cameroon also raises the issue that the Cameroonian Military did not enjoy the freedom to enter Nigeria soil to fight the insurgency; while both Niger and Chad did.Cotonou2 – 3 AugustIndependence CelebrationsBuhari attended Benin's 55 years of independence celebration. He also held talks with Thomas Boni Yayi with regards to the Boko Haram insurgency after Benin increased the number of troops in its task force against the terrorist group. Accra7 SeptemberState VisitBuhari makes a one-day official visit to hold bilateral talks with president of Ghana John Dramani Mahama. Buhari tries to discuss the repatriation of Nigerian funds, that allegedly the previous administration had stolen and stashed in Ghana. Further trade and regional security were also discussed. Paris14 – 16 SeptemberState VisitBuhari's main agenda for the visit was to increase bilateral trade and seek closer ties against the fight against terrorism in Nigeria. Buhari met with François Hollande with regards to oil and defence in Nigeria.New York City24 – 29 September70th session of the United Nations General AssemblyBuhari makes his first visit to the UN headquarters in New York. He holds various bilateral talks with Barack Obama, François Hollande and other high level leaders. Buhari also attended the World Leaders summit on violent extremism. New Delhi26 – 30 OctoberThird India Africa Forum SummitBuhari attends the Third India Africa Forum summit hosted by Narendra Modi. It was the biggest India-Africa summit ever with representatives from all 54 African countries. Khartoum30 OctoberState VisitOn the way back from the India-Africa forum, Buhari makes quick stop in Khartoum. Buhari held bilateral talks.Tehran22 – 24 November3rd Gas Exporting Countries ForumBuhari makes a 2-day state visit to attend the 3rd Gas Exporting Countries Forum. Buhari meets Nigerians living in Iran and had a private meeting with Ali Khamenei.Valletta28 – 30 November2015 Commonwealth Heads of Government summit.Buhari attends the 2015 Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit along with various other heads of state.Paris30 November – 1 DecemberParis Conference of Parties 21Buhari attends the Paris Conference on Climate change right after his visit to Malta. Buhari also gives a speech at the conference and promises that Nigeria will cut 20% of its emissions as part of the carbon reduction effort.Johannesburg4 – 5 DecemberChina Africa summitBuhari attends the China-Africa Corporation Forum. While in South Africa Buhari discussed with Jacob Zuma regarding the MTN $5.2 billion fine and held talks to strengthen bilateral relationships.
2016 The following is a list of international presidential trips made by Buhari in 2016. Buhari makes a trip to the United Kingdom in February 2016 & June 2016, however, they were not in an official capacity and were for routine medical checkups. Country Areas visited Date(s) Purpose(s) NotesCotonou8 January11th summit of the Heads of State of the Niger Basin AuthorityBuhari attends the 11th summit of the Heads of State of the Niger Basin Authority. The summit focused on the water resources in the area and the new secretary general is elected.Abu Dhabi17 – 20 JanuaryWorld Future Energy SummitBuhari attends the World Future Energy Summit. Various agreements were also signed with the UAE government, in terms of Trade and share intelligence against terrorism. Addis Ababa26 January26th Summit of African Union Heads of State and Government.Buhari attends the 26th Summit of African Union Heads of State and Government. The Summit focused on Peace and Security, which has been part of Buhari's main foreign policy agenda.Eldoret, Nairobi27 – 29 JanuaryState VisitBuhari arrived at Eldoret International Airport first, to join Uhuru Kenyatta president of Kenya and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud president of Somalia in the memorial service for Kenya Defence Forces soldiers that died in Somalia due to the Al-Shabaab insurgency. This is Buhari's first visit to East Africa and various trade agreements are drafted to promote intra-Africa trade which is the agenda of the Kenyan president. Furthermore, the laws in banking and taxation were reviewed.Strasbourg2 – 4 February Official VisitBuhari address the special session of the European Union Parliament with regards to the global fight against terrorism, extremism and corruption. Sharm El Sheikh18 FebruarySharm el-Sheikh 'Africa 2016’Buhari attends the Sharm El Sheikh conference that attracted over 1200 delegates. The conference aimed to build relationships between North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. Buhari's main focus during the summit was focused on eliminating terrorism to improve the investment atmosphere. Buhari also held bilateral talks with Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, president of Egypt with regards to military and economic co-operation.Riyadh, Jeddah, Mecca, Medina22 – 27 FebruaryState VisitBuhari was received by high level Saudi officials at the airport. Buhari was in Saudi Arabia to encourage Saudi investment into Nigeria and discuss trade agreements between the countries in terms of Oil and Shipping. Buhari meets the Saudi monarch, King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud. Buhari also visits the two holy Islamic sites of Mecca and Medina.Doha27 – 28 FebruaryOPEC MeetingBuhari visit Qatar for the OPEC meeting. Buhari also meets the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to discuss the recent oil price glut. Buhari stresses the co-operation needed between OPEC and non-OPEC members to sustain oil producing countries economies.Malabo14 MarchState VisitBuhari visit's Malabo to discuss with president Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo with regards to maritime security in the Niger Delta. The countries want to establish a joint task force to combat piracy and oil theft in the Gulf of Guinea.Washington, D.C.30 March – 3 April 4th Nuclear Security SummitBuhari attends the 4th Nuclear Security Summit.Beijing11 – 14 AprilState VisitBuhari and his team of Nigerian delegates discussed various deals and agreements totalling over $6 billion. Various Nigerian and Chinese firms through the Nigeria-China business forum created bilateral agreements.London13 May – 15 MayAnti-Corruption SummitBuhari attends the first ever Anti-corruption summit in the United Kingdom. The summit attracted various heads of state from around Africa. Anti-corruption and terrorism have been the heart of the administrations agenda and the summit was vital to get international support.N'Djamena8 AugustInauguration of Idris DebyThe President attended the Inauguration of Idris Deby along with various heads of state.Nairobi27 – 28 AugustTokyo Conference on AfricaPresident Buhari attends the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development. The conference promoted structural economic transformation through diversification and industrialisation. New York City11 – 15 SeptemberSeventy-first session of the United Nations General AssemblyPresident Buhari attends the Seventy-first session of the United Nations General Assembly.Berlin13 – 16 OctoberState VisitBuhari attends the Nigerian business forum in Germany and tries to increase economic ties between Germany and Nigeria. Buhari also held bilateral talks with Angela Merkel to increase economic and military ties between the country. Buhari made the official announcement that 21 Chibok girls were released and that the government was further negotiating the remaining girls release. Marrakesh14 – 18 NovemberUnited Nations Climate Change conferenceBuhari attended the COP22 conference on climate change in Morocco. Dakar5 – 7 DecemberThird Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in AfricaBuhari attended the Third Dakar International Forum on peace and Security in Africa. Along with various other leaders. Buhari also met some Nigerian diaspora based in Senegal.Banjul13 DecemberECOWAS summitBuhari along with two other heads of state, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and John Dramani Mahama, flew into Banjul to persuade Yahya Jammeh to follow the constitution and accept defeat in the country's election. The Economic Community of West African States leaders also met with Adama Barrow to discuss international involvement in the presidential transfer process.
2017 The following is a list of international presidential trips made by Buhari in 2017. In January, May and September 2017, Buhari traveled to the United Kingdom, however, they were not in an official capacity and were for routine medical checkups.