President Bola Tinubu is now in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to attend the Joint Arab-Islamic Summit, which will focus on the current situation in the Middle East.

The presidential air plane landed at the King Abdulaziz International airport at about ten a.m local time.

President Tinubu was received on arrival by a delegation led by the deputy governor of Riyadh, Prince Mohammed Abdurrahman.

The Riyadh Summit is scheduled to commence tomorrow Monday, November 11, 2024.

A statement by the presidential adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga indicates that the event is at the instance of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

During the summit, President Tinubu is expected to address the ongoing Israel-Palestinian conflict, emphasising Nigeria’s strong call for an immediate ceasefire and the urgent need for a peaceful resolution.

Nigeria will also advocate for renewed efforts to revive the two-state solution as a pathway to lasting peace in the region.

The president is expected to return after the conclusion of the summit.

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has revealed that Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), will soon regain his freedom.

The governor made the disclosure while speaking during a monthly media chat at the Government House Banquet Hall in Umuahia.

Governor Otti revealed ongoing discussions with the presidency about Kanu’s continued detention. He, however, shied away from revealing specific details, stressing that sensitive steps are being taken behind the scenes.

The Abia State-born activist has been a vocal advocate for Biafra’s secession and independence from Nigeria. He has remained in prison since his re-arrest in 2021.

BEIJING (Reuters) -China and Indonesia have agreed to strengthen cooperation in key sectors, including lithium, new energy vehicles, green energy and tourism, according to a joint statement released on Saturday.

The statement followed a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, who is visiting China through November 10, the first country he has visited since taking office last month.

Prabowo, who won Indonesia’s presidential election in February, also chose China as the first country to visit as president elect, underscoring Jakarta’s commitment to strengthening its strategic ties with Beijing.

“China and Indonesia will work together to cultivate new drivers of global development, exploring cooperation potential in areas such as new energy vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaics, while seizing opportunities in digital economy and green development sectors,” the statement said.

Both nations will strengthen the global energy transition partnership and jointly ensure the security of global mineral supply and industrial chains, it added.

On Sunday, Chinese battery materials producer GEM signed a deal with PT Vale Indonesia to build a high-pressure acid leaching plant in Central Sulawesi, to secure nickel resources, a Shenzhen filing showed. Prabowo witnessed the signing.

The nickel industry in Indonesia, the world’s largest producer of the metal, is dominated by Chinese companies like Tsingshan Holding Group and Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt.

In efforts to revive and surpass pre-pandemic tourism levels, the two countries will introduce new visa measures, including multi-entry long-term visas, and encourage more direct flights and destinations based on demand.

During Prabowo’s visit, both sides signed several cooperation deals, including in housing and the export of fresh coconuts from Indonesia to China.