Ahead of election for the Presidency of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) scheduled to hold in New York, June 4, 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari, Sunday, has sent a Federal Government delegation to support Nigeria’s candidate, Prof. Tijjani Muhammad- Bande.
Prof. Bande, the current Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN, if elected, will become the second Nigerian to head UNGA after Maj. Gen. Joseph Nanven Garba (rtd), who held the position between 1989 and 1990.
In a statement made available to journalists on Sunday, by Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, said the Nigerian delegation will be led by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb, Mustapha Sulaiman.
Others in the delegation includes the Director- General, National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar Executive Secretary, Petroleum Technology Development Fund, Dr. Bello Aliyu Gusau; and Mallam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the president on Media and Publicity.
“President Buhari is confident that Nigeria’s Presidency of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly will provide a unique opportunity for Nigeria to lead the global call to tackle the political, social, economic and environmental challenges facing the world.”
“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.” Shehu said.
Shehu further added that the federal government 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 taking over in 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.
