UN Secretary General, Ban ki-Moon arrives Nigeria to meet Buhari

Secretary General of the United Nations (UN), Mr Ban Ki Moon, is in the country in company of Mr Mohammed Ibn Chambers and seven others to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari.

He is also expected to meet with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and leaders of the business community during the visit.

Talks during the meetings with the nation’s leaders would focus on “Pathways to a new Nigeria-Role of Sub-National Governments”.

Mr Ki-Moon will also lay wreath to commemorate the 4th Anniversary of the attack on the United Nation’s House, in Abuja and embark on a field visit to Kuje Area Council.

During the two-day visit, he will also hold dialogue and lunch with Nigerian Business actors under the theme “The role of Nigerian Business and Economy in Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and addressing Climate Change”.

The UN Secretary-General will further hold talks aimed at deepening Nigeria’s democracy with government officials on the theme “Democracy, Sustainable Development, and Countering Violent Extremism”.

Mr Ki-moon’s visit is coming in the month that Nigeria is presiding over the UN Security Council and most African countries have said they would leverage on the opportunity to present security challenges facing some African countries. They expect to get the Council’s support in addressing the challenges.

On Wednesday, the UN called for support for nearly 1.5 Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria’s North-East, as a result of terrorists activities.

The Kaduna State Ministry of Budget & Planning (KADMBP) has also announced a dinner event in Abuja in honor of Mr Ban Ki-moon.

The dinner, expected to take place after the meeting with the Nigeria Governor’s Forum, will be hosted by Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

Those expected to attend the event include Mr. Ki-Moon (as stated), Hajiya Amina J Mohammed, his Special Adviser on SDGs, as well as other members of his team. On the side of the Kaduna State Government, the Governor El-Rufai, Hadiza Bala Usman (Chief of Staff), Balarabe Abbas (SSG) Jimi Lawal (Special Adviser, Investment & Promotion), Muyiwa Adekeye (Special Adviser, Media & Communications) and the Commissioner of Budget & Planning, Mohammed Sani Abdullahi.

According to the Commissioner of Budget & Planning of Kaduna State, Mohammed Sani Abdullahi, “this meeting between the UN delegation and the El-Rufai-led administration further highlights the seriousness of the administration to partner with any stakeholder that can further the development of the state.”