Pres Buhari to meet Obama at UN General Assembly session

The meeting which was confirmed by White House was however not on the itinerary of the Nigerian President released yesterday.

The U.S support for security and economic changes in the Nigeria as well the government’s efforts to counter the terrorist group, Boko Haram is expected to top the discussion between the two Presidents.

You will recall that Nigeria and the US have pending agreement over the sale of US military equipment, especially attack helicopters to fight the insurgents.

Meanwhile in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, FEMI ADESINA, President BUHARI would deliver Nigeria’s statement at the opening of the General Debate of the Assembly on “The Sustainable Development Goals: A Universal Push to Transform Our World.”

The Presidential Spokesman revealed that the president would also attend a high-level summit to be hosted by the UN, on “Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants’’.

The statement read that the summit, which is the first of its kind organised by the General Assembly at the Heads of State and Government level, is expected to come up with a blueprint for a better international response to enhance protection of migrants and refugees.

The statement also disclosed that the Nigerian President would deliver a keynote address on “Taking Climate Action toward Sustainable Development in Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin.

It noted that leaders of member-countries of Lake Chad Basin would attend the summit, organised by Nigerian government, to highlight the urgent need to mobilise international response to the situation in the Chad Basin.

The statement also read that while in New York for the annual gathering of world leaders, the president would attend series of meetings as well as side events, which were of significant interest to Nigeria.

President BUHARI is also expected to participate in an event hosted by the UN Secretary-General, BAN KI-MOON, on “Ending Need in the Lake Chad.’’

The President will sign the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and participate in activities commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Declaration of the Right to Development.

He would attend the Clinton Global Initiative as well as the United Nations Private Sector Forum on Business and Global Goals organised by the Secretary General.

President BUHARI will also lead discussions at the United States-Africa Business Forum devoted to investing in Nigeria.

He is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with some world leaders in furtherance of his administration’s commitment in ameliorating the plight of Internally Displaced Persons in the country and focusing on his longstanding commitment to returning peace and security in the North-East of Nigeria and the Niger-Delta.

It will be President BUHARI’s second appearance on the UN General Assembly since assumed power on 29 May last year.

WRT-UP/CI