President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Remi Tinubu have departed Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, following their participation in the G-20 Leaders’ Summit.
The presidential delegation departed Galeão Air Force Base (SBGL) in Rio de Janeiro at 10:30 a.m. local time on Saturday and is expected to arrive at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, around 10:00 p.m. Saturday night.
During the summit, President Tinubu endorsed the global alliance against hunger and poverty, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to tackling these pressing challenges.
The President also held bilateral discussions with Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), who commended the economic reforms initiated by his administration.
“We have far too many children out of school, and we recognise that education is a vital pathway out of hunger and poverty. This is why we are developing strategies and incentives to ensure these children remain in school. We need your support to help those who are eager to stay in education,” President Tinubu told the IMF chief.
The Nigerian leader emphasised his administration’s focus on expanding the nation’s tax base to foster inclusive economic growth, without imposing additional burdens on the already-taxed populace.
“We are engaging stakeholders and raising awareness among Nigerians to broaden the economy’s tax base for developmental growth. However, we aim to achieve this without increasing the tax burden on our citizens who have already made significant contributions. Your support in these efforts is essential,” he added.
Tinubu further noted that Nigeria’s ongoing tax reforms are designed to stimulate economic activity and address systemic challenges.
Accompanying the President to the summit was a high-level delegation including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; the Minister of Livestock Development; and the Minister of Arts, Tourism, Culture, and Creativity.
The G-20 comprises 19 member countries, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as the European Union.