By Oluwaseun Sonde
The United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres has arrived Abuja for his 2-day official visit to Nigeria, while received by Nigerian Foreign Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama and Federal Capital Territory Minister, Mallam Mohammed Musa Bello and others.
The Secretary-General is accompanied by Ms. Vera Songwe, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA); Mr. Abdoulaye Mar Dieye, Special Coordinator for Development in the Sahel.
And Mr. Annadif Khatir Mahamat Saleh, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS).
Earlier in the day, the Secretary-General visited Maiduguri where he was received by the Governor of Borno State, Prof Babagana Umara Zulum.
Addressing journalists in Maiduguri, Mr. Guterres disclosed that his visit was of solidarity, especially with the victims of terrorism, in the holy month of Ramadan.
“The fact that I came to Borno State is symbolic of our priority to the world to fight terrorism and to create solutions for the victims of terrorism", UN Chief said
He explained, “The Borno I found today is a Borno of hope. It’s a Borno with a future and I was very impressed to see the policy that is being applied here, recognizing that we don’t fight terrorism just by military means.”
Governor Zulum appealed to the Secretary-General to continue supporting Borno in reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement processes, as well as reintegration of thousands of repentant Boko Haram terrorists back into the society.
He further requested support for the recharging of the Lake Chad Basin which provides means of livelihood to millions of people in the state.
The Secretary-General will also have an audience with the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E. President Muhammadu Buhari; the Vice President, H.E. Prof Yemi Osinbajo; Religious Leaders; Women; the Private Sector and the Diplomatic community, on Wednesday 4 May 2022.
The UN Secretary-General is on an annual Ramadan solidarity visit to Senegal, Niger and Nigeria.
He was received on arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport by the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama; the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Mohammed Musa Bello; and the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations, Prof Tijjani Muhammad-Bande; and other senior government officials.
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