COAS Annual Conference: Buhari Shuts Down Maiduguri

President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, to declare open the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Conference.

President Buhari’s Personal Assistant on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, made this known in a tweet on Wednesday afternoon.

President @MBuhari arrives at the Maiduguri International Airport, he is in Borno State to declare open the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Conference which was originally scheduled to hold in Benin, Edo State. pic.twitter.com/KjkJ2RzAje

— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) November 28, 2018

Meanwhile, it was gathered that ahead of the President’s visit, some major roads and markets in the state capital were shut down as early as 8 a.m.

The State’s Commissioner of Information, Dr. Mohammed Bulama, had earlier announced that President Buhari would first meet with the Shehu of Borno on his arrival, after which he would proceed to address troops of the the Operation Lafiya Dole in the state.

“On arrival at 11.30a.m, Mr. President will proceed to the Palace of His Royal Highness, the Shehu of Borno to pay the Monarch a courtesy call. He shall thereafter proceed to the venue of the Conference at an army event centre near the Cantonement,” Bulama had said.

THE WHISTLER recalls that the COAS Annual Conference that was originally scheduled to take place in Benin, the Edo State capital, was transferred to Maiduguri after an attack on a military base in Metele community of the state by Boko Haram insurgents.