Buhari to address UN later this month where he will lobby for a permanent Security Council seat

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has been invited to speak at the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 18 where he will use the occasion to canvass for Nigeria to be given a permanent United Nations (UN) Security Council seat.

Since assuming office in 2015, President Buhari has enjoyed a lot of international goodwill, being invited to address numerous global gatherings including those of the UN and organisations like the G-8. Seen as the giant of Africa and the main hope of the continent as it seeks to develop, Nigeria is being wooed by industrialised nations who want her to spearhead Africa's drive to drag herself out of poverty.

Foreign minister Geoffrey Onyema, revealed that President Buhari is once more being asked to address the UN general assembly in New York, proving that Nigeria is highly rated internationally. He added that the president will use the opportunity to canvass for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council and for a Nigerian to emerge as the president of the general assembly next year.

Mr Onyema said: “It is an opportunity for the president to put forward Nigeria’s position globally, the ideas and vision as a global community. President Buhari will be addressing areas such as eradication of extreme poverty, maintenance of international peace and security, human rights, highlights on humanitarian activities, tackling climate change and promoting environmental sustainability.”

In the UN, the general assembly is one of the six main organs of the with equal representation for member states. Nigeria's Joe Garba was once the president of the general assembly and over recent years there have been demands for the security council to be expanded with Africa getting two permanent seats.