President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday departed Abuja for France, ahead of the Thursday’s meeting of global leaders to review and sign a New Global Financial Pact.
The trip will be his first official visit outside the country since he assumed office as President on the 29th of May, 2023.
The Special Adviser, to the President on Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, had on Monday said the President will join other world leaders for the meeting taking place on Thursday and Friday.
It was however not immediately clear why the President had to leave Nigeria on Tuesday, two days ahead of the meeting which is expected to place vulnerable countries on priority list for support and investment, following devastating impact of climate change, energy crisis, and after effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.
BusinessDay sources at the Presidential Villa, revealed that the President may have departed early to enable him “ have enough rests and see his Doctors before the Thursday meeting.
The President had soon after the 2023 elections, embarked on a medical trip to France, to see his doctors.
But Alake, in his statement on Monday, disclosed that the President will participate in the two-day Summit, June 22 and 23, that looks at opportunities to restore fiscal space to countries that face difficult short-term financial challenges, especially the most indebted; mobilize innovative financing for countries vulnerable to climate change.
It will also foster development in low-income countries, and encourage investment in “green” infrastructure for the energy transition in emerging and developing economies.
“President Tinubu and the other global leaders, multilateral institutions, financial experts and economists will take a more holistic look at the recovery of economies from the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, and rising cases of poverty, with a view to providing access to finance and investment that will leverage inclusive growth,” Alake said.
The Summit, which will be hosted by President Emmanuel Macron of France, will be held at Palais Brongniart.
The President will be accompanied by members of the Presidential Policy Advisory Council and senior government officials.
The statement added that the President will return to Abuja on Saturday, after the summit
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Following the early departure for France on Tuesday, Vice President Kashim Shettima decorated the new acting Inspector General of Police ( IGP ) Kayode Egbetoku, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja
Former IGP, Baba Alkali, speaking after the decorations, described the event as “significant” that he was able to witness the event
“ I’m happy I am handing over to somebody I know that will carry the mantle of leadership from where I have stoped.
“ We grew up together on this job, I was his boss at a time or even when I was IG. He worked under me twice, we’ve been working together and I know how he can go ahead to champion the course of the police from where I stopped.
The acting IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, speaking after his decoration, stated that he is ready for the tasks ahead.
” Now I have just been decorated and I am looking forward to taking over tomorrow morning by 11 am. I really can’t describe how I feel presently, but if I have to tell you anything, I will tell you that right now i feel like Tiger inside of me ready to chase away all the criminals in Nigeria.
“ I also feel like a lion in me ready to devour all the internal enemies of Nigeria. That’s my feeling right now.
Until his latest appointment, Egbetokun was the Deputy Inspector-general of Police, supervising DIG for the South-West geo-political zone, he was later moved to Abuja to man the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID), Force Headquarters, Abuja in April 6, 2023.
Born on 4th September, 1964 in Erinja, Yewa South local government area of Ogun State, the new acting IGP, enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force on March 3, 1990, as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police.
He had his initial cadet training in the Nigeria Police Academy, and has attended many other courses within and outside the Police Force.
He also served as Deputy Superintendent of Police in 1999, before he was appointed Chief Security Officer ( CSO) Bola Tinubu, soon after he was elected Governor of Lagos State
Egbetokun also served as the Commander, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Lagos, Squadron Commander, MOPOL, Anti-Fraud Unit, FCT Command, Abuja, Chief Superintendent of Police, Administration, Lagos State Command headquarters, Ikeja, Area Commander, Osogbo, Osun State Command and Area Commander, Gusau, Zamfara State Command, among several others.
He graduated from the University of Lagos, Akoka, with Bachelor of Science degree (BSc) in Mathematics in June 1987 and lectured Mathematics briefly at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, before his enlistment into the Police Force.
Egbetokun also has an MSc, in Engineering Analysis, from the University of Lagos, Akoka, 1996, PGD in Petroleum Economics from Delta State University, Abraka, 2000, and an MBA from Lagos State University, Ojo in 2004.
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