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Ki-Moon Still Eager To Visit Nigeria
After two cancellations of his proposed trip, UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon says he is still eager to visit Nigeria before the end of the year.
Ban wrapped up his second trip to Africa on Tuesday with visits to Sierra Leone, South Africa, Burundi and Cameroon.
Nigeria had been listed as one of the African countries to be visited but it was later cancelled indefinitely.
Responding to a question from newsmen at a news conference with UN correspondents on Friday, the first after his return from Africa, the Secretary-General said visiting Nigeria was still a “priority” on his agenda.
“Because of some conflicting schedules between President Goodluck Jonathan and myself, we agreed to postpone it to a later stage.
“I met President Jonathan in South Africa on the occasion of the World Cup and we agreed that we would discuss a mutually convenient date.
“Cooperation and partnership with Nigeria is very important; so I should be able to arrange my visit as soon as possible,” he said.
Ban said he would return to Africa within the month with visits to Gabon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
He described his last trip as “very encouraging”.
The secretary-general said: “In every country I saw the continent’s effort to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
“I saw countries making significant gains in consolidating peace and improving governance and preparing for presidential or legislative polls between now and 2012.
“And at the International Criminal Court Review Conference in Uganda, the parties to the Rome Statute made important progress in our fight against impunity and demonstrated that an era of accountability is dawning in Africa and everywhere.”
Commenting on the forthcoming G-20 summit in Toronto, Canada, Ban promised that the continent’s needs and potential would be among its top priorities.
He said the Toronto meeting must not settle for “an economic recovery that simply takes us back to pre-crisis conditions; we need to build back better”.
In a letter he wrote to the G-20 leaders, Ban emphasised the need for concerted efforts in three specific areas.
These are inclusive growth, including a priority on job creation and decent work; green growth, powering prosperity through environment-friendly technologies and, lastly, growth that promotes healthy populations.
On the latter, he explained that he would call on the G-20 to invest in stronger health systems, including the vital issue of maternal and child health.
he meeting of the G-20, which includes both developed and developing economies such as Russia, China and Argentina, will hold on June 26 and end on June 27.
The G-8 meeting of major industrialised countries will precede it on June 25 in the resort community of Huntsville, Ontario, Canada.
The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee to organize the celebration of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) in the State.
The committee was formally inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.
Dr Anabraba who also serves as Chairman of the Committee
highlighted the State Government’s deep appreciation for the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes who laid down their lives for the nation’s peace and unity.
“These heroes have given their lives for the security and peace of our nation and deserve to be celebrated. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an opportunity to show our gratitude for their sacrifice,” he said.
Dr. Anabraba further extended recognition to all Security Agencies in the State, emphasizing the importance of the event in appreciating their contributions to national security and sovereignty.
The annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed on January 15 across the country is dedicated to remember Nigeria’s departed soldiers and honouring the nation’s veterans.
