Trump White House to host Nigeria President Buhari

Nigerian presidency press office | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

Then U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (L) and Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja, Nigeria, on March 12, 2018.

Last April, the Trump administration tied up a $600 million deal with Nigeria over the sale of military aircraft intended to be used in the fight against Islamic extremist group Boko Haram. The deal dates back to former President Barack Obama’s tenure, but was delayed over human rights concerns.

But, Nigeria imports most from China, whose share of total imports accounts for more than double that of the U.S., according to the World Bank.

Buhari’s last foreign visit was to London for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting last week, at which he said he’d met with Shell for talks to help secure a potential $15 billion investment in his country.

Buhari, 75, is a former military leader. He was elected president in 2015 in what signified the first time an opposition party had won an election in Nigeria.