Presidential delegation departs for U.S. as UNGA poll set to hold Tuesday

Ahead of tomorrow’s election of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) President in New York, United States, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday dispatched a Federal Government delegation to support Nigeria’s candidate, Prof. Tijjani Muhammad- Bande.

Prof. Bande, who is Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), will become the second Nigerian to be elected UNGA President after Maj.-Gen. Joseph Garba, who held the position between 1989 and 1990.

In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, the Permanent Secretary, in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador, Mustapha Sulaiman, has been named the leader of the delegation.

Others are: National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Director- General Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar; Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Executive Secretary Bello Aliyu Gusaua and Shehu.

The statement noted that President Buhari has the optimism that Nigeria’s Presidency of the 74th session of the UNGA will provide a unique opportunity for the country to lead the global call to tackle the political, social, economic and environmental challenges facing the world.

The statement reads: “Nigeria looks forward to working with UN member states to promote international peace and security, prevent conflict, strengthen global action to tackle climate change, ensure inclusion, human rights, and empowerment of youth and women.

“Nigeria hopes to build on progress made under Ecuador’s Presidency of the 73rd Assembly led by María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, and further promote key themes that President Buhari has championed on the global stage since 2015, which include climate change, combating terrorism and violent extremism, and establishing functional anti-corruption mechanisms to assist countries like Nigeria recover and repatriate stolen funds.”