John Kerry, the United States Secretary of State has been scheduled to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja next week.
Kerry will also be meeting with governors of some northern states, to discuss issues associated with religious extremism and the Boko Haram insurgency.
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According to John Kirby, the Assistant Secretary and US Department of State spokesman, the meetings will also focus on corruption and the Federal Government’s efforts to tackle it.
“The Secretary will travel to Sokoto, and Abuja, on August 23 to 24. He will meet with President Buhari to discuss counter-terrorism efforts, the Nigerian economy, the fight against corruption, and human rights issues.
“In Sokoto, he will deliver a speech on the importance of resilient communities and religious tolerance in countering violent extremism. In Abuja, the secretary will meet with a group of adolescent girls working to change community perceptions that devalue the role of girls in society. He will also meet with northern governors and religious leaders,” Kirby said.
The statement by Kirby also disclosed that before coming to Nigeria, Kerry will visit Kenya where he will discuss the issue of terrorism in East African countries.
“On August 24 to 25, Secretary Kerry will travel to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for a series of meetings with senior Saudi leaders, his counterparts from the Gulf Cooperation Council, the United Kingdom, and the United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen.”