Buhari returns from UNGA with ‘special assignment’ from United Nations

President Muhammadu Buhari has returned to Abuja after his weeklong engagement at the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States of America.

The president came back to the country with a special request from the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, which is to help in restoring socio-political order in troubled West African countries, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

Guterres, who commended Buhari for his leadership roles in Africa as well as the stabilisation of the West African sub-region, aired his opinion during an audience with the president at the sidelines of the 76th Session of the UNGA.

The UN scribe observed that Africa, especially West Africa, was generally seen as an ocean of stability and good governance, but was deeply concerned about the recent reversal of fortunes in democratic rule in some parts of the West African sub-region with coups overturning elected institutions.

He, therefore, urged Buhari to continue to show leadership as he looked up to Nigeria to help stabilise the sub-region in terms of democracy and good governance.

On terrorism, the secretary-general commended the efforts of Nigeria on this global phenomenon.

Guterres assured the Nigerian leader of the UN’s continued support in her efforts to address the prevailing security and humanitarian challenges that had arisen especially with the Internally Displaced Persons.