Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed Abuja for Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the inauguration and naming ceremony of a $315 million oil production and storage facility.
The facility, fully owned by a Nigerian oil and gas company, was acquired by Oriental Energy Limited and is set to be inaugurated on December 14, 2024.
A statement issued by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, confirmed that Shettima’s trip will also include a visit to Saudi Arabia. In Saudi Arabia, he is scheduled to perform the Lesser Hajj (Umrah) in the holy cities of Madinah and Makkah from December 16 to 19, 2024.
The statement further outlined that on December 20, 2024, Vice President Shettima is expected to hold a bilateral meeting in Jeddah with the President of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB). The discussions will focus on co-financing arrangements for the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ Phase II) and improving coordination on IsDB projects in Nigeria, aimed at fostering the country’s agricultural and economic growth.
The Vice President is expected to return to Nigeria by December 21, 2024.
Earlier on Friday, Vice President Shettima participated in the wedding ceremony of Fatiha, the son of the Minister for Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu. The event, held at the Sultan Bello Mosque in Kaduna, celebrated the union of Ibrahim A. Bagudu and Amina Tatari Ali.
Upon his arrival in Kaduna, Vice President Shettima was welcomed by the State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, at the airport. Before the wedding, he attended the Friday Juma’at prayers at the Sultan Bello Mosque, where he was joined by several distinguished individuals, including Governors Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Professor Babagana Zulum (Borno), and the Special Adviser to the President on General Duties (Office of the Vice President), Aliyu Modibbo Umar.
The wedding ceremony also attracted a host of prominent figures, including Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group; Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun; Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi; Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Yahaya; Kebbi State Governor Dr. Nasir Idris; and Sokoto State Governor Dr. Ahmad Aliyu. Other notable attendees included Senators Alhaji Abdul Aziz Yari (Zamfara West) and Simon Bako Lalong (Plateau South), 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.
