Olamilekan Okeowo with Agency report
President Muhammadu Buhari will leave Nigeria for New York on Sunday to attend the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 72).
The President is expected to address the General Assembly and participate in a debate on ‘Focusing on People: Striving for Peace and a Decent Life for All on a Sustainable Planet, a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina said.
In addition to that, President Buhari will join other world leaders at the welcoming reception to be hosted by the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, and also hold a bilateral meeting with the UN scribe.
He is also expected to hold a lunch meeting with President Donald Trump of the United States of America, along with other world leaders.
According the Presidency, the country will also participate in high level meetings on ‘Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse: Building Momentum for Change,’ the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, and a high-level event organised by the African Union under its Theme of the Year: ‘Roadmap on the Demographic Dividend: from Commitment to Action,’ among others.
“Nigeria’s commitment to global peace, security and development will also be reaffirmed and where necessary, the need for increased international cooperation in the fight against corruption,” the statement added.
“Other priorities for the Nigerian delegation at UNGA 72 include strengthening human rights institutions; the rule of law; support for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) as a result of terrorist acts and recent flooding, and mitigating the effects of Climate Change.”
Earlier this week, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffery Onyeama had said the country’s focus at the meeting will be on terrorism and the repatriation of stolen funds.
The Presidency confirmed this in the statement, saying, “The Nigerian delegation will also canvass the support of UN member states for the Buhari Administration’s efforts towards combatting illicit financial flows in order to foster sustainable development”.
After the UNGA, President Buhari will travel through London on his way back.
