LAGOS, Nigeria
Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to pay an official visit to the United States at the request of President Barack Obama, a spokesman told Anadolu Agency on Thursday.
"There's an invitation for the president to meet with President Obama in the United States," presidential spokesman Femi Adesina said. "The meeting is in the third week of July."
A White House statement confirmed that Obama will host the newly-elected Nigerian leader for a meeting where they will discuss the fight against Boko Haram and attempt to reset bilateral relations that nearly broke down during the last administration.
"On Monday, July 20, President Obama will host Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari at the White House," according to the statement. "The visit will underscore the United States’ longstanding friendship with Nigeria, our commitment to strengthening and expanding our partnership with Nigeria’s new government, and our support for the Nigerian people following their historic democratic elections and peaceful transfer of power."
Nigeria and the US often tout each other as strategic partners, a relationship analysts say is built around the strategic place of Abuja as Africa's top energy producer and regional powerhouse.
