UN Secretary General Urges Buhari to Ensure Stability Of West Africa

UN Secretary General Urges Buhari to Ensure Stability Of West Africa

*Flays reversal of democratic fortunes in Guinea, Mali, Chad

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Secretary General of the United Nations (UN), Mr Antonio Guterres, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to use his leadership qualities towards ensuring the stability of the West African sub region.

He also flayed the recent reversal of democratic fortunes in some West African nations including Guinea, Mali and Chad.

In a statement issued by the Media Adviser to the President, Femi Adesina, the UN scribe commended President Buhari for his leadership roles in Africa as well as stabilization of the West African sub-region.

The Secretary General spoke Friday at 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 President 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, Guterres commended the efforts of Nigeria on the 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.

He also commended Nigeria’s efforts on climate change, expressing willingness of the world body to cooperate with the country in this regard.

In his remarks, President Buhari applauded Gutterres for his global leadership and the success of the 76th Session.

He assured the UN Scribe 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.

President Buhari added that Nigeria was ready to support and work closely with the United Nations towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

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