The President of the United Nations General Assembly, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, has arrived in Nigeria for a four-day official visit to the country.
Muhammed-Bande who arrived to a rousing welcome at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja on Thursday night was received by some top UN officials and government officials in Nigeria.
They include the UN Resident Coordinator, Ms Comfort Lamptey, and Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Charge d’Affaires of the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations, Ambassador Samson Itegboje, among others.
Similarly, among those on the entourage of the UNGA President are his Chef de Cabinet, Mari Skåre; Senior Adviser, Alex Tope, and Special Assistant, Muyiwa Onifade.
It is the first time Muhammed-Bande is visiting Nigeria since he took over the leadership baton of the UN General Assembly form his predecessor, Mara Espinosa Garces of Ecuador.
As the sole candidate for the position, Muhammad-Bande was elected as the President of the 74th UNGA at the 87th plenary meeting of the Assembly in the United States on June 4, 2019.
He is the second Nigerian to hold the office in three decades after late retired major general and diplomat, Joseph Garba.
Muhammed-Bande announced his visit to Nigeria on his verified Twitter handle on Friday.
The United Nations System in Nigeria also announced the UNGA President’s arrival in a series of tweets.
Thanks to the @UN_Nigeria team. I look forward to a productive visit. https://t.co/rk0WfKFzit
— Tijjani Muhammad-Bande (@BandeTijjani) November 22, 2019
Thanks to Minister of Foreign Affairs @GeoffreyOnyeama of @NigeriaMFA for a fruitful meeting. I am grateful for Nigeria’s support to #OPGA74 and commend its commitment to multilateral cooperation. pic.twitter.com/N27ZxP37UK
— Tijjani Muhammad-Bande (@BandeTijjani) November 22, 2019
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