Shettima arrives at UNGA as Nigeria prepares Thursday address

Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in New York to lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st United Nations General Assembly, where Nigeria is scheduled to deliver its national statement on Thursday.

Shettima said Nigeria’s engagements at the meeting would be guided by national interest, support for multilateral cooperation and President Bola Tinubu’s call for changes to global institutions.

“Nigeria believes in multilateralism, but the institutions that govern our world must become more representative, equitable, and responsive to the realities of today,” Shettima said in a statement reported by Premium Times and Punch.

The vice president travelled with Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning Doris Uzoka-Anite and other senior officials. Premium Times reported that he was received in New York by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Women Affairs Minister Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim and other Nigerian officials.

The UN General Debate runs from September 22 to 26 and resumes on September 28. Punch reported that the session’s theme is “Restoring trust, managing transformation: a United Nations that delivers for all.”

Vanguard reported that Nigeria will address the Assembly on Thursday. The trip follows the Presidency’s earlier explanation of why Tinubu would not attend the gathering, which NaijaTrend reported here.

Sources: Premium Times, Punch, Vanguard