Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed Abuja for Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the commissioning and naming of a $315 million oil production and storage facility.
The facility, a fully Nigerian-owned oil and gas company acquired by Oriental Energy Limited, is scheduled for commissioning on December 14, 2024.
Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of The Vice President, in a statement, said the Vice President would proceed from Dubai, to Saudi Arabia where he would perform the Lesser Hajj (Umrah) in the holy cities of Madinah and Makkah from December 16 to 19, 2024.
Part of the Statement said, “On December 20, Vice President Shettima is also scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with the President of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) in Jeddah.
Discussions will focus on co-financing arrangements for the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ Phase II) and enhanced coordination of IsDB projects in Nigeria, aimed at bolstering the nation’s agricultural and economic development.
“The Vice President is expected back in Nigeria on or before December 21, 2024.”
Meanwhile, the Vice President attended the wedding Fatiha of the son of Minister for Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, at the Sultan Bello Mosque in Kaduna earlier on Friday.
The wedding was between Ibrahim A. Bagudu and his bride, Amina Tatari Ali.
Upon arrival, the Vice President Prior to the wedding ceremony, Shettima observed the Friday Juma’at prayers at Sultan Bello Mosque.
He was accompanied by the Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule; Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum; and Special Adviser to the President on General Duties (Office of the Vice President), Aliyu Modibbo Umar.
Other dignitaries who attended the wedding included President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; Jigawa State Umar Namadi; Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya; Governor of Kebbi State, Dr. Nasir Idris; and Sokoto State Governor, Dr. Ahmad Aliyu.
Also present were: Senator representing Zamfara West senatorial zone, Alhaji Abdul Aziz Yari; Senator representing Plateau South of Plateau, Simon Bako Lalong; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun and Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle among other dignitaries.