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AT UNGA80: VP Shettima Meets UN Secretary-General Over Nigeria’s Security Council Bid, UNDP Partnership, Others
AT UNGA80: VP Shettima Meets UN Secretary-General Over Nigeria’s Security Council Bid, UNDP Partnership, Others
** Nigeria, UK forge strategic partnership on trade, defence, migration
** Says digital inclusion, youth empowerment backbone of President Tinubu’s agenda
By: Our Reporter
Vice President Kashim Shettima met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres at UN headquarters in the United States today to discuss key issues, including Nigeria’s quest for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council and other matters of mutual interest.
Vice President Shettima emphasised the need for the UN to “support Nigeria even more so that we achieve more,” highlighting that “we are aspiring to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council.”
The two leaders also held bilateral discussions focusing on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), climate change, collaboration on strengthening democracy in Nigeria and the African region, and partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on regional initiatives for democracy and security.
Speaking about the visit to the United Nations, Foreign Affairs Minister Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar disclosed that the UN has a very strong presence in Nigeria, with many of its agencies domiciled in the country.
The minister told the press after the Vice President met with Guterres that the UN Secretary-General commended the Vice President for emphasising Nigeria’s need for a permanent position on the UN Security Council.
Providing insight into the VP-UN Secretary-General meeting, Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy Dr ‘Bosun Tijani said the Nigerian delegation had a very cordial engagement with the UN Secretary-General.
He highlighted Guterres’ comments on artificial intelligence and his hope and expectation that Nigeria will continue to play a significant role in that field.
“He was extremely happy when we mentioned that Nigeria, just a few days ago, released our first multilingual and multimodal large language model—the first of its kind on the African continent, backed by any government.
“Even as we were leaving, he (Guterres) mentioned that he would love to see Nigeria support other African countries to ensure Africa is not left behind in artificial intelligence and that we can leverage it properly for development,” he disclosed.
Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Yusuf Tanko Sununu, stressed that the Nigerian government had fruitful discussions with the United Nations Secretary-General, highlighting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s efforts in addressing humanitarian crises and poverty reduction.
“We highlighted that we have one of the largest national social registers containing almost 18.9 million households, and we have reached over 8.1 million Nigerians through conditional cash transfers.
“We also highlighted the government’s efforts to promote inclusivity for people with disabilities,” the minister added.
Furthermore, he stated that both parties shared ideas on durable solutions to address ongoing challenges.
Sununu added that the humanitarian ministry is affected by funding reductions to UN organisations, noting that the World Food Programme (WFP) currently supports about 1.3 million Nigerians receiving emergency food transfers.
The minister stressed that the federal government is working earnestly to “fill the gap.”
He disclosed that the UN Secretary-General assured Nigeria of continued support to improve the ministry’s capacity, authenticate its national social register, and secure more funding for intervention and poverty reduction activities.
“Generally, the Secretary-General thanked the Nigerian government, especially the President, for ongoing support to the United Nations and assured us that the UN will continue to support Nigeria’s wishes and aspirations.”
Earlier in the day, the Vice President held a bilateral meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, David Lammy MP.
The UK and Nigerian leaders pledged to deepen cooperation in trade, economy, defence, and migration.
On the same day, Vice President Kashim Shettima attended the Global Leadership Council Meeting, assuring that Nigeria is poised to leverage opportunities in the digital space to engage youths and empower women and girls.
The Global Leadership Council Meeting, held at UNICEF Headquarters, Henry Labouisse Hall, 3 United Nations Plaza, United States, brought together Heads of State, CEOs, heads of UN agencies, civil society champions, and young people to analyse how to co-create and deliver innovative solutions on a global scale.
“Be assured that we are poised to take opportunities in the digital space to engage our youth and, most importantly, to empower our women because they are the backbone of our society,” the Vice President said, adding that inclusivity, which is very crucial, is one of the backbones of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, exemplified by young people occupying key positions in Nigeria’s government.
AT UNGA80: VP Shettima Meets UN Secretary-General Over Nigeria’s Security Council Bid, UNDP Partnership, Others
Police officer dies, 17 injured in auto crash along Potiskum–Bauchi road
By: Zagazola Makama
A senior police officer has died while 17 other passengers sustained injuries following a road accident along the Potiskum–Bauchi highway in Yobe State.
Sources said the crash occurred at about 3:15 p.m. on Feb. 21 near the bye-pass roundabout area of PKM on the outskirts of Potiskum.
The vehicle, a Toyota Hummer Bus belonging to Borno Express and conveying 18 passengers from Kaduna to Maiduguri, reportedly lost control after the rear tyre rim on the passenger side suddenly detached.
According to the sources , the driver veered off the road into a bush, resulting in fatal and multiple injuries.
One of the passengers, ACP Abubakar Ibrahim Balteh, 45, attached to the Borno State Police Command, sustained a severe head injury and died on the spot.
Two male and two female passengers escaped unhurt, while 13 others suffered serious injuries of varying degrees.
The injured victims and the deceased were evacuated to the General Hospital Potiskum for treatment and autopsy.
Police officer dies, 17 injured in auto crash along Potiskum–Bauchi road
Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA humiliate Lakurawa terrorists
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA have neutralised several of suspected Lakurawa terrorist elements following a failed attack on Dadinkowa community in Kebbi State.
Local intelligence sources said the armed group attempted to raid a local market in the early hours of Sunday and blocked a major access road into the community to facilitate the operation.
The sources disclosed that security forces responded swiftly after receiving distress alerts and engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle, forcing them to retreat.
According to the sources, several of the assailants were neutralised during the encounter, while others escaped with suspected gunshot wounds.
The attempted market raid was successfully foiled, preventing potential civilian casualties and destruction of property.
Troops have since intensified patrols and clearance operations around Dadinkowa and adjoining areas to track fleeing elements and stabilise the security environment.
Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA humiliate Lakurawa terrorists
One killed as suspected IPOB/ESN militants attack Ogbakoba Market in Anambra
By: Zagazola Makama
A 15-year-old boy was killed while security operatives repelled an attack by suspected members of the proscribed IPOB/ESN militia at Ogbakoba Market Arena in Anambra State.
Sources said the incident occurred on Feb. 21 at about 1:40 p.m., when a group of armed hoodlums emerged from a dense forest camp at Amiyi and opened sporadic fire at market-goers, apparently attempting to kidnap or rob residents.
A joint task force patrol team stationed at Amiyi responded swiftly, engaging the attackers in a fierce gun duel that forced them to retreat into the forest with bullet wounds. The injured boy was rushed to the village hospital but was confirmed dead on arrival. His body was deposited in the morgue for autopsy and preservation.
The sources added that later the same day at about 8:30 p.m., the armed group resurfaced near the community, snatching a shuttle bus with registration number HAL 987 XA and a GSM phone belonging to one Mr. Kinsley Iwunze of Okpotuno Odekpe, Ogbaru LGA.
Security operatives immediately dispatched teams to the scene, but the hoodlums had fled. Authorities said an aggressive manhunt was ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
One killed as suspected IPOB/ESN militants attack Ogbakoba Market in Anambra
Police officer dies, 17 injured in auto crash along Potiskum–Bauchi road
Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA humiliate Lakurawa terrorists
One killed as suspected IPOB/ESN militants attack Ogbakoba Market in Anambra
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