Buhari Returns To Abuja After UNGA Meeting In New York

President Muhammadu Buhari has returned to Abuja after a week’s stay in New York, United States of America (USA) for the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The President, who touched down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at about 5:20 am on Sunday, was ferried to the Presidential Villa immediately.

While in New York, President Buhari engaged in a number of diplomatic and trade meetings with other leaders from different parts of the world.

While addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, September 24, President Buhari called the attention of the world to a couple of issues affecting the world, especially as it concerns the African continent.

He made a special appeal to the Assembly, especially the developed world, to make international trade accessible to all on fair and equitable terms, noting that free and fair global trades would make it possible for struggling economies to come afloat and made dependence on aids and handouts less of a choice.

He urged G20 countries to extend its debt suspension initiatives to all developing countries, least developed countries, and small island developing states facing fiscal and liquidity challenges.

The president also called for outright debt cancellation for countries facing the most severe challenges occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The speech also touched on the efforts of his administration on anti-corruption, debt suspension, international trade, UN Security Council Reform, Palestinian Question, and racial discrimination, among others.

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While still in New York, Buhari reiterated the determination of his administration to work on an ambitious Energy Plan towards reducing the energy shortcomings by the year 2030.

He spoke in line with Nigeria’s role as a Global Theme Champion for the Energy Transition, the theme of the High-Level Dialogue on Energy on the sidelines of the 76th UNGA.

“Nigeria’s commitment to a just transition is reflected in our ambitious Energy Compact, which includes the Government’s flagship project to electrify 5 million households and 20 million people using decentralised solar energy solutions”, the President said.

He also raised alarm over the recent trend of the unconstitutional takeover of power in some West African countries, urging world leaders to reject such illegal acts.

According to Buhari, such unconstitutional takeovers, sometimes in reaction to unilateral changes of constitutions by some leaders, should not be tolerated by the international community.

The president warned that the democratic gains of the past decades in West Africa ‘‘are now being eroded’’ due to these negative trends.