Nineteen days to inauguration, President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu has departed Nigeria for Europe on a working visit.

Tinubu, according to his media office, left Lagos on Wednesday afternoon with some of his key aides.

His return day is yet unknown. But his Media Office stated that Tinubu “is scheduled to return shortly for preparations towards his official swearing in as the 16th President of the country on May 29, 2023.”

The trip is to help the President-Elect finetune his transition plans and programmes, and his policy options.

The trip will also reduce unnecessary pressures and distractions on the President-Elect ahead of the May 29 inauguration.

First Lady takes Tinubu’s wife on tour of Presidential Villa

The media office said: “He will use the opportunity of the trip to finetune the transition plans and programmes, and his policy options with some of his key aides without unnecessary pressures and distractions.

“During the visit, the President-elect will engage with investors and other key allies with the goal of marketing investment opportunities in the country and his administration’s readiness to enable a business-friendly climate through policies and regulations.

“Already, meetings with multi-sectoral actors in Europe’s business community including manufacturing, agriculture, tech and energy have been lined up.”

The statement stated that Tinubu hopes to convince the European community of Nigeria’s readiness to do business under his leadership through mutually-beneficial partnerships premised on jobs creation and skills acquisition.

“Reviving the country’s economy forms a major plank of Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda and the meeting is part of his efforts to re-establish Nigeria’s importance in the global economic chain and create empowering opportunities for the country’s huge youth population.

“The President-elect has hitherto promised to hit the ground running and the visit is reflective of his commitment to the promise as he has already begun talks with global actors in the important areas of the economy and security,” the media office added.

Before he left the country, Tinubu met with the House of Representatives candidates for Speaker and Deputy Speaker endorsed by his party, the All Progressives Congress, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and Hon. Benjamin Kalu, who were presented to him by Joint Task Team of the House.

The Star