VP Shettima leads Nigeria's delegation to UNGA

Advertisements

Vice-President Kashim Shetima has flown out of Abuja for the United States, leading the Federal Government delegation to the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, UNGA.

A statement on Sunday by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President On Media and Communications, said Vice President Shetimma’s trip to the US was on the directive of President Bola Tinubu.

The Vice President is to present the country’s position on key international issues and would also speak to the delegates on the recent flooding that devastated most parts of the country.

Earlier reports had indicated that the president was forced to abandon his attendance of the UNGA meeting in order to face the problems at home.

The global event, slated for September 24 and 28, is with the theme: Leaving no one behind: “Acting Together For The Advancement of Peace, Sustainable Development, And Human Dignity For Present And Future Generations.”

The statement recalled that President Tinubu had directed the Vice President to lead the Nigerian delegation to the high-level global forum while he focuses on addressing pressing domestic issues, including the recent devastating flood disaster.

In a statement on September 18, Bayo Onanuga, a spokesman to the President disclosed that President Tinubu would no longer attend the meeting due to pressure on him to fix the problems at home, including the economic hardship and the devastating flooding in some parts of the country.

“At UNGA 79, Vice President Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement to the General Assembly, attend important sideline events, and hold bilateral meetings.

“The high-level General Debate, with the theme ‘Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations,’ will run from Tuesday, September 24, through Saturday, September 28, 2024,” Onanuga said.