By Micheal Eyibio
The Secretary General of the United Nations (UN), Mr. Antonio Gutterres, has charged President Muhammadu Buhari to use his overarching presence in the West African stabilize the region.
Mr. Femi Adesina, in a disclosure through a statement said the UN boss commended Buhari for his leadership roles in Africa and in the West African sub-region.
Gutterres, according to Adesina, spoke in a meeting with the Nigerian President at the sidelines of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly taking place in New York.
According to the UN Scribe, Africa, especially West Africa was generally seen as an ocean of stability and good governance, but was deeply concerned at recent reversal of fortunes in democratic rule in some parts of the West African sub-region with coups overturning elected institutions.
He, therefore, urged Buhari to continue to show leadership as he looks up to Nigeria to help stabilize the sub-region in terms of democracy and good governance.
On terrorism, the Secretary General commended the efforts of Nigeria on this global phenomenon, assuring the Nigerian leader of the United Nations’ continued support in her efforts to address the prevailing security and humanitarian challenges that have arisen especially with the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
He also commended Nigeria’s efforts on climate change, expressing willingness of the world body to cooperate with the country in this regard.
President Buhari applauded Gutterres for his global leadership and the success of the 76th Session.
He assured the Secretary General that Nigeria had achieved appreciable successes in tackling the insecurity caused by terrorists and bandits.
The President also thanked him for the global organisation’s intervention in activities towards reducing the effects of Climate Change especially with the support for the Great Green Wall programme, which is aimed at arresting desertification across the Sahel as well as the campaign against deforestation in Nigeria.
Buhari added that Nigeria was ready to support and work closely with the UN towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
