The Federal Government is seeking multilateral efforts to tackle the menace of illicit financial flows, poverty and terrorism ravaging the country as President Muhammadu Buhari leads a delegation to the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
Minister of Foreign Affair, Geoffrey Onyeama said this while briefing reporters on Tuesday on Nigeria’s participation in the Session to be presided over by Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Muhammad Bande, who is the President of the 74th Session.
The minister added that Nigeria articulated its priorities against illicit financial flows and the repatriation of Nigeria’s stolen assets in line with the current government’s war against corruption.
The Minister said, “There is a side event on the promotion of international cooperation to combat illicit financial flows and strengthen good practices on asset recovery and returning of stolen assets to foster sustainable development in the country. This will be organized by the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) as well as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).”
He said that the 74th session will also host events on the integration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and bridging the policy, planning and budget gap for the achievement of the SDGs, which will be organized by the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs.
He noted that the UN is also galvanizing multilateral efforts to eradicate poverty, enhance quality education, climate action and inclusion, four areas which resonate with Nigeria’s priorities aimed at creating of jobs as, which is one of President Buhari’s main planks of “Next Level” agenda.
President Buhari is number five on the list of presidential speakers, which is very high up as issues of peace and security and very importantly the SDGs, economic issues, educational issues, social issues, child rights, war on terror, the humane treatment of migrants as well as Nigeria’s quest to recharge Lake Chad will be discussed.
On the xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa, the Minister said that Nigeria will not discuss such matters at the UNGA, because he believes both Nigeria and South Africa will be able to sort out their differences on the platform of their Binational Commission.
The Minister further said that the issues of non-renewal of work permits of Nigerians in South Africa and the reports around the cancellation of the residency of the returnees will be discussed by both President Muhammadu Buhari and Cyril Ramaphosa during their meeting on October 3.
On the vexed issue of compensation of Nigerians who lost their property in the attacks in South Africa, Onyeama said the South African government promised that businesses that were insured will be compensated according to their laws.
Nigeria and Nigerians are also seeking for positions in several international organizations such as the International Maritime Organisation, the World Heritage Committee, and the International Civil Aviation Council among others.
Innocent Odoh, Abuja
