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Tag: Switzerland

  • ‘America First not America alone’, Trump to World Leaders

    ‘America First not America alone’, Trump to World Leaders

    U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday told global business elite at the World Economic Forum in Davoc, Switzerland, that he would always put America first when it concerned trade.

    “As President of the U.S., I will always put America first but America first does not mean America alone just like the leaders of other countries should put their countries first.

    “When the U.S. grows, so does the world,” Trump told the business group.

    He pledged to promote a fair and reciprocal trade system by negotiating for mutually-beneficial trade agreements.

    “We cannot have free and open trade if some countries exploit the system at the expense of others; we support free trade but it needs to be fair and it needs to be reciprocal.

    “The world is experiencing the resurgence of a strong and prosperous America.

    “America is open for business and we are competitive once again,” Trump said.

    Read Also: Trump to undergo physical examination early 2018

    (Xinhua/NAN)

  • Trump asked to finalise details of visit to Britain – May

    Trump asked to finalise details of visit to Britain – May

    British Prime Minister Theresa May and U.S. President Donald Trump have asked officials to “work together on finalising the details of Trump’s visit to the UK later this year,’’ May’s office reports.

    May and Trump met on Thursday on the sidelines on the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, a day ahead of a scheduled keynote speech by Trump.

    They discussed Iran and Syria, while May briefed the U.S. president on the “good progress’’ in Britain’s negotiations on leaving the European Union, Downing Street said.

    “The two leaders reiterated their desire for a strong trading relationship post-Brexit, which would be in the interests of both countries,’’ it said.

    Trump announced earlier this month that he had cancelled a visit to London coinciding with the opening of a new U.S. embassy on February 26, when mass protests against him were planned in London.

    He said he did not like the building and thought it was a “bad deal’’ financially.

    Critics said the real reason for Trump’s cancellation of the trip was the strong opposition to him in Britain.

    Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson on Monday blamed the opposition Labour party for whipping up anti-Trump sentiment, which risks “damaging the national interest.’’ (dpa/NAN)

  • Nigeria woos foreign investors with infrastructure

    Nigeria woos foreign investors with infrastructure

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in Davos, Switzerland, said Nigeria was ready to partner international investors and friendly nations to develop Nigeria’s manufacturing sector and promised to boost infrastructure to provide ambience for investment.

    Osinbajo said this in a statement by his Special Senior Assistant on Media, Laolu Akande, in Abuja.

    Osinbajo stated this while meeting with a delegation of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), led by Mr Hiroyuki Ishige, the organisation’s Chairman and CEO on the sideline of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

    According to Osinbajo, the Buhari administration working with the Private Sector is determined to boost the Nigerian manufacturing sector and will be engaging with international partners and friendly nations to realise the goal.

    “Nigeria and Japan should be doing more, far more based on the existing long relationship and trade between both countries,” said the vice president.

    According to him, the collaboration will be mutually beneficial to both countries.

    The vice president said manufacturing was one sector that Nigeria and Japan could work together and deepen their economic relations.

    “Nigeria, the largest economy in Africa will be getting involved in the manufacturing global chain and it would be private sector led, government would be backing it up,” Osinbajo explained.

    He cited the example of the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) being set up in the country as a major boost to the sector, adding that the zones will have all needed infrastructure.

    “We will provide world-class infrastructure and this is a good opportunity for investors around the world to tap into, an opportunity to do some game-changing projects, to do something big,” he added.
    , [
    Earlier, JETRO’S Chairman, noted the rise of Japanese firms in Africa and highlighted the country’s readiness to promote business in Nigeria and support Nigeria’s export promotion.

    Also the vice president participated in the WEF’s solo video message recording on the conference’s theme: “Shared Future in a Fractured World”.

    In the programme, heads of government and business leaders answered questions around economic development sent in from the global public.

    Other leaders who participated in the video included French President, Mr Emmanuel Macron, and the Prime Minister of Norway, Mrs Erna Solberg. (NAN)

  • Ethiopian Airlines to begin flights to Geneva

    Ethiopian Airlines is set to launch direct thrice weekly service to Geneva, Switzerland on June 3, 2018.

    Switzerland will host the highest number of international organizations in the world, including the headquarters of many of the agencies of the United Nations and the Red Cross, Geneva.

    Regarding the launch of the service, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, said: “Geneva hosts the highest number of international organizations in the world, making it a global hub for diplomacy. It’s a perfect complement to Addis Ababa, our main hub and Africa’s diplomatic capital with the headquarters of the African Union and the UN-ECA (Economic Commission for Africa). Government officials and staff from regional and international organizations in Geneva and across our extensive African network will be able to enjoy seamless and convenient connectivity, enabling them to carry out their missions with ease and convenience.”

    The route will be operated with a Boeing 787-800, one of the most technologically advanced aircraft in the carrier’s fleet family, featuring up-to-date amenities with redefined travel experiences. As with all Ethiopian’s flights, customers will enjoy the much acclaimed African-flavored Ethiopian hospitality.

  • Fed Govt, Switzerland sign MOU stopping illegal dumping

    The Federal Government in partnership with Switzerland’s King and Spalding, a leading Law firm in Geneva, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to stop using the Nigerian market as a dumping ground.

    The agreement was signed in Geneva by Chief Negotiator and Director-General,  Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations (NOTN), Ambassador Chiedu Osakwe for Nigeria and Mr. Daniel Crosby for King and Spalding

    In a statement, yesterday,  NOIN, said King and Spalding are expected to support the drafting of Nigeria’s trade remedy laws, as well as prepare a legal brief on the rationale and requirements for the legislation, which will effectively stop dumping on the Nigerian market, adding that The company’s services are on a pro bono basis

    According to the statement, “Nigeria has been grappling unsuccessfully with increased cases of dumping and other injurious imports in the economy. This is undermining serious efforts of the Federal Government to support local manufacturers and service providers to competitively grow the economy through integration to global value chains, in a rules-based global economy.

    It said dumping in the Nigerian market was illegal and anti-development, saying the legal services and technical support to be provided by King and Spalding, was a major step forward to decisively stop, what it referred to as “this illegal practice and alarming increase of dumping in the Nigerian economy.”

    Nigeria commended King and Spalding for its pro bono support, and said it is  looking forward to a technically solid partnership to establish a rules-based trade remedy infrastructure for Nigeria in 2018.

    Crosby said Nigeria was one of Africa’s most ambitious and exciting economies, saying the Nigerian government’s commitment to economic and social development, while nurturing local businesses and industries, was an important one.

    “We’re extremely pleased to be able to collaborate on a pro bono basis with the Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations (NOTN) to help establish a WTO-consistent trade remedy system, that will promote free and fair trade, while protecting local entrepreneurs and keeping the country competitive as it integrates further into global markets,” he said.

  • $321m Abacha loot coming from Switzerland

    $321m Abacha loot coming from Switzerland

    Nigeria is set to receive $321m Abacha loot from  Switzerland.

    A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by Nigeria, Switzerland and the World Bank, which will pave the way for the release of the cash, was signed on Monday.

    The money is part of the estimated $5billion allegedly looted by Nigeria’s former military leader, the late  Gen. Sani Abacha, who was head of state between 1993 and 1998.

    Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami (SAN) signed the MoU on behalf of Nigeria, according to his media aide Salihu Othman Isah   in a statement yesterday.

    “The modalities for the return of the stolen funds are set out in the MoU that was signed by the three parties at the Global Forum on Asset Recovery (GFAR) currently ongoing in the United States,” he said.

    Isah added that Director of the Directorate of International Law, Ambassador Roberto Balzaretti, who led the Swiss delegation to the GFAR, signed for Switzerland. The Country Director of the World Bank office in Abuja, Rachid Benmessaoud, signed for the World Bank.

    “The MoU stipulates that the restitution of funds will take place within the framework of a project known as the National Social Investment Programme that will strengthen social security for the poor in Nigeria.

    “The MOU also regulates the disbursement of restituted funds in tranches and sets out concrete measures to be taken in the event of misuse or corruption.

    “The chosen solution for restitution is being undertaken by the three contracting parties as a partnership,” he said.

    Isah added that the arrangement was “in line with the objectives of Switzerland’s strategy to freeze, confiscate and return the illicitly acquired assets of politically exposed persons (asset recovery) which is based on the principles of transparency and accountability.

    “It also allows the involvement of civil society in the monitoring of the restitution process. Furthermore, the return of these funds makes a concrete contribution to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and can set a good example internationally for future restitution cases.

    “These assets, which were initially frozen in Luxembourg, were repatriated and confiscated by Switzerland as part of criminal proceedings brought by the public prosecutor’s office of Geneva against Abba Abacha in December, 2014.

    “The signing of this MOU gives Nigeria visibility and will set precedence on the need for transparent management of returned assets internationally.

    “The GFAR brought together experts from the field of asset recovery to strengthen international cooperation in this area.

    “Nigeria will also use the opportunity of the GFAR meeting at the headquarters of the International Finance Corporation in Washington DC to negotiate the return of other assets and also engage in bilateral meetings with several other countries.

    Other members of the Nigerian delegation to this meeting, are the Special Assistant to the President on Justice Reform and Coordinator, Open Government Partnership (OGP), Mrs. Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu, Nigeria/GFAR Focal Person and Assistant Director, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Ladidi Abdulkadir and A representative of  civil society organisations David Ugolor of the  African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ).

    The money was frozen in 2014 by a Swiss court after a legal procedure against Abacha’s son, Abba.

    President Muhammadu Buhari made the recovery of stolen assets a major part of his 2015 election campaign and this will be the largest yet.

    Switzerland did not say precisely when the money will be released.

    “The fight against corruption is one of Switzerland’s priorities” Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter said, adding that the move should “strengthen social security for the poorest Nigerians”.

    Transparency International, a corruption watchdog, has accused Abacha of stealing up to five billion dollars of public money during the five years he ran the oil-rich country

    In 2014, Nigeria and the Abacha family reached an agreement for the West African country to get back the funds, which had been frozen, in return for dropping a complaint against the former military ruler’s son, Abba Abacha.

    The son was charged by a Swiss court with money-laundering, fraud and forgery in April 2005, after being extradited from Germany, and later spent 561 days in custody.

    In 2006, Luxembourg ordered that funds held by the younger Abacha be frozen.

    The Swiss government said that Switzerland, Nigeria and the World Bank had agreed the funds will be repatriated via a project supported and overseen by the World Bank.

     

  • Magu in Austria, says EFCC recovered N738.9bn in two years

    Magu in Austria, says EFCC recovered N738.9bn in two years

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) on Wednesday in Austria said it recovered loots totaling N738.9 billion or $2.9 billion between May, 2015 and Oct. 20, 2017.

    Its Acting Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu, stated this at the ongoing 7th Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption holding in Vienna.

    Spokesman of the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, gave account of Magu’s engagement in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.

    In a presentation titled: “International Cooperation in Relation to Tecnical Assistance: The Nigerian Experience”, Magu said the sum was exclusive of smaller currencies in Durham, CRA and British Pound.

    He stated that the commission had made a lot of recoveries locally using the mechanism of the non-conviction based forfeiture provided under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

    “Within this year alone, the commission recovered stolen assets running into several millions of US Dollars and billions in naira.

    “These include the sum of $43 million recovered from Deziani Allison-Madueke, Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum and N2 billion spread in seven accounts within three Nigerian banks laundered from the Federal Capital Territory Police Command Salary Accounts”, he explained.

    Magu, who was said to be a panelist at the Implementation Review Group attended by over 100 delegates, detailed the Nigerian efforts in asset recovery.

    He said the country had also made progress in specific cases related to Abacha loot, Malabu Oil, Diezani and associates, and the arms procurement scandal.

    These efforts, he said, cut across Switzerland, USA, UK, UAE, Jersey Island and Panama.
    In his recommendations, the EFCC boss sought improved coordination and cooperation among state parties in asset recovery.

    He said this could be done through the consideration and adoption of measures that would remove traditional barriers such as bank secrecy in line with Article 46(8) and dual Criminality Article 46(9) as well as simplify legal technicalities in the recovery and repatriation of stolen funds.

    He further sought measures to reduce cost of recovery of assets for developing countries and ensure speedy return of all stolen assets to victim states in line with the current resolution sponsored by Nigeria.

    He also called for sanction and prosecution of any financial institution that violates AML/CFT measures and the maintenance of a public register on beneficial ownership.

    Meanwhile, Nigeria has received global commendation for its doggedness in tracing and recovery of its solen assets, according to the commission’s spokesman.

    Uwujaren said the commendation came at a meeting between Magu and Dr Nassar Abaalkhail, the Head of International Collaboration, National Anti-Corruption Commission, Saudi Arabia.

    The meeting, which held on the sidelines of the conference, followed Magu’s presentation, Uwujaren said.

    He quoted Abaalkhail as saying that Nigeria’s efforts at loot recovery were remarkable.

    “From what I have heard, Nigeria’s effort at asset tracing is remarkable. Nigeria is indeed a role model for countries, including developed countries.

    “We have so much to learn from Nigeria”, he said.

    Uwujaren said the Iranian National Focal Point for the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, Dr Mohsen Mardal, also commended the Nigerian presentation.

    Similarly, the Commissioner, Sierra Leone Anti-Corruption Agency, Ady Macauley, said the EFCC was not only “formidable, but a pride to the African States”.

    “My men were in Nigeria a fortnight ago to understudy your operations, I must confess, we have a lot to learn in investigation, prosecution and asset recovery”.

    NAN

  • Abacha loot: Switzerland to return $321m – Malami

    Abacha loot: Switzerland to return $321m – Malami

    The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami ( SAN ) announced Thursday that negotiation has been concluded with Switzerland on the return of $321Million recovered from the late Abacha family.

    Malami also said the country recently recovered $85m from the controversial Malabu Restrained Funds from United Kingdom (UK).

    Spokesman to the Minister, Salihu Isah, in a statement Thursday, said Malami disclosed these in Abua at a Pre-Global Forum on Asset Recovery (GFAR) Consultative meeting with the theme: “Building an ending framework for asset recovery in Nigeria.”

    Isah quoted Malami as saying that with the conclusion of negotiation, the Memorandum of Understanding will be signed by parties at the Global Forum on Assets Recovery meeting to be held on between December 4 and 6 in Washington.

    He said after parties’ endorsement of the MOU, the repatriation of the funds would follow within weeks as agreed by the parties.

    He said Malami stressed the need for the international community to ensure the implementation of measures considered and adopted at the London Anti-Corruption Summit in May, 2016.

    Malami, Isah said, assured that the country was willing to support the transparent return of stolen assets.  He urged the international community to ensure prompt return of assets from the country to enable it meet the sustainable development goals.

    He quoted Malami as sayin:”“It is widely acknowledged that corruption undermines economic development, political stability, rule of law, social development, disrupts social order and destroys public trust in the governance system. It is an established fact that corruption which is linked to organised crime, terrorism and insecurity is one of the reasons for underdevelopment.

    “Resources and funds meant for development of infrastructure in education, health and security sectors, among others have been stolen and hidden in different parts of the world,”

    Isah said the British Ambassador to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright (represented by Senior Police Advisor, Michael H. Bonner) and. Swiss Ambassador, Eric Mayoraz commended the Nigerian government for collaborating with Civil Society Organizations to fight corruption and in tackling illicit financial flows.

    He said they pledged the support and cooperation of their home countries in repatriating stolen funds stashed away in banks at their countries back to Nigeria in due course.

    Read also: United States claims $300m Abacha loot

    Isah also quoted the Director MacArthur Foundation, Dr. Kole Shettima as praising the Nigerian government for getting interest groups on board for the asset recovery drive.

    He said Shettima wished that other parties like the Nigerian movie industry known as Nollywood as well as the media among others are involved to be all encompassing.

    Shettima siad he was not comfortable with the situation where the anti-corruption war would be seen as the fight of President Buhari or government fight, but as the fight of all Nigerians.

    Isah said the Director, African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), David Ugolor Said Global Forum on Asset Recovery, established as an outcome of the London 2016 Anti- Corruption Summit hosted by former British Prime Minister, David Cameron would build on the experiences of the Arab Forum on Asset Recovery (AFAR) and the Ukraine Forum on Asset Recovery (UFAR).

    The AGF’s spokesman quoted Ugolor as saying: “(the core objective of GFAR is to convene practitioner experts to provide an effective opportunity for countries to cooperate on asset recovery cases.

    “It also tries to highlight the importance of strong political commitment, multijurisdictional coordination and practitioner interaction. “Its inaugural meeting will focus on assistance to four priority countries; Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Tunisia and Ukraine”.

  • Nigeria recovers $85m Malabu loot from UK

    Nigeria recovers $85m Malabu loot from UK

    The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami Thursday announced that the Federal Government had just recovered $85million Malabu fund from the United Kingdom (UK).

    His words: “I am also pleased to inform that Nigeria has just recovered the sum of $85million on the Malabu funds from UK.”

    He spoke at the Agenda for Pre-Global Forum on Asset Recovery (GFAR) Consultative Meeting organized by the Mac Arthur Foundation and the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) in Abuja.

    Malami also added that the Federal Government of Nigeria was concluding negotiation with that of Switzerland on the return of $331million recovered from the family of the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha.

    According to him, the Civil Society Organizations will be involved in the monitoring of the utilization of the funds.

    He stressed that with the conclusion of the negotiation, the different countries involved are to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the repatriation of the funds in the next few weeks.

    The minister said that “we are indeed concluding negotiation with Switzerland on the return of $331million recovered from the late Abacha family. I am pleased to inform that Civil Society Organizations were involved in the negotiation of the Memorandum of Understanding.

    “Most importantly, the Civil Society Organizations will be involved in monitoring the use of funds. With the conclusion of negotiation, parties are to sign a Memorandum of Understanding at the global forum at Asset Recovery meeting and repatriation all follow within weeks as agreed by the parties. ”

    He recalled that Nigeria has implemented the United Nations Convention Against Corruption requirement through the development of National Strategy on Anti-Corruption.

    The National Strategy on Ant-Corruption, according to Malami, was adopted by Nigeria and has been approved by the Federal Executive Council in July this year, which the President is expected to launch in due course.

    He revealed that the Nigeria is currently reviewing its anti-corruption laws, noting that the Federal Government has signed government partnership initiative and completed the National Anti-Corruption national action plan with practical implementation in the country.

    Malami noted that President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to launch the National Action Plan very soon.

    He said that “it is pertinent to state at this point that the repatriation of our stolen wealth need very tedious several bilateral agreements entered into between Nigeria and other jurisdictions.”

    Even when the provision of the United Nations Convention against corruption obliged same, the minister said that, parties to facilitate the return of stolen assets between Nigeria and parties are facing several challenges.

    He said that his office has held talks with office of interests during the global forum on asset recovery.

    He said the countries include the United Kingdom, United State of America, Canada, Switzerland, South Africa, Panama, United Arab Emirates, Northern Ireland, Gambia and others.

    The Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, Eric Mayoroz said Switzerland and the government of Buhari are committed to fight against corruption.

    He noted that his country changed its legislation in the last decade so that stolen money could not be deposited there.

    The envoy said that his country’s law on money laundering is now the global model in the fight against the crime.

    According to him Switzerland was the first country to return stolen funds to Nigeria from the western world after it recovered $22million from the late Abacha’s family.

    He said that then, the Swiss Justice discovered that there were still other assets owned by the family in the country and it froze hundreds of million dollars deposited by the family in the banks.

    The envoy added that after an agreement was signed by the Swiss government and that government of Nigeria in 2014,  the Swiss Attorney General in Geneva decided that the money about $320million  should be given back to Nigeria.

    It urged negotiation with the government of Nigeria and the modalities emerged in 2016 when Malami and the Swiss AGF signed the letter of intent ,that the money should be protected from another attempt of being looted again.

    He added that in June 2016, Vice President Yemi Osibanjo chose the projects to use the money on to include those that would benefit the poorest in the society and that it would be monitored by the World Bank.

    He said “a few weeks ago, at the moment of negotiation, leading to the final point and the writing of the Memorandum of Understanding, we are very grateful to the Nigerian authorities for its commitment to a transparent and accountable decision that is aimed to reduce absolute poverty and providing cash transfers to support the poorest and most vulnerable Nigerian population.

    He said that the Swiss government had insisted that measures must be taken to ensure that the money will not disappear again, noting that the role of the civil society is vital in the matter.

    Mayoroz said that “We openly expect to sign another agreement between the Nigerian Civil Societies and the World Bank even before the end of this year.”

    Speaking, the British High Commission/Ambassador to Nigeria Mr. Paul Arkwright, said that the United Kingdom is keen to see the quick passage of Nigeria’s bill on asset recovery and it is also ready to support its implementation.

    He said that Civil Society Organizations will have vital roles to play in the monitoring and oversight of assets.

    According to him, asset recovery is an important priority in the UK in its bilateral relationship with Nigeria.

    The transparent management and use of money and the returned assets matter more to the United Kingdom than Nigeria.

    He said that his government is insisting that the retrieved funds must be out to good use by the government of Nigeria for Nigerians.

    The United State Ambassador to Nigeria, who was represented by Senior Police Advisor, Mr. Michael Baner noted that the US was not a safe haven for stolen funds.

    The chairman of ICPC Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye  said that Nigeria needs to agree on some framework for asset returning saying that foreign countries a zealous to return stolen assets yet very conservative about returning the money.

    He said one should not criticize the position of the western world on asset return because previously returned ones were mismanaged or re-looted.

    According to him, Nigeria is now trying to put that accusation behind it by developing a roadmap for future asset recovery.

    He called for a framework and structure for the management of returned assets.

    He said that pending the passage of the bill in the National Assembly, there is now a framework which the government is using to diminish accusation against law enforcement agencies who recover asset in a transparent manner.

  • Buhari’s integrity is unimpeachable – Onyeama

    Buhari’s integrity is unimpeachable – Onyeama

    Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, has described the integrity of President Muhammadu Buhari as unimpeachable and remained intact in the fight against corruption.

    Onyeama told the Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York that the amount of money siphoned out of the country was staggering.

    According to him, however, the Federal Government has been engaging countries where the money was stashed away for repatriation.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari is known as a crusader against corruption; his integrity in unimpeachable.

    “The high level of corruption has played a direct role in the development deficit in the country.

    “We know that corruption fights but it’s a fight this government intends to fight to the end.

    “We will require global cooperation to facilitate restitution and repatriation of those funds. Corruption is an impediment to development,” the Minister said.

    Onyeama said Switzerland had repatriated about $1 billion in looted funds to Nigeria while high-level discussions were ongoing with Britain, Qatar, the U.S. and a host of other countries.

    He explained that corruption was endemic and was not going to be won overnight, stressing that the Federal Government was determined to block financial leakages in the system.

    The minister added that Buhari had also made it clear that there would be no immunity for high-profile corrupt individuals, adding that the Whistle Blowers’ policy was working.

    According to him, the Federal Government has the records of all the money recovered from proceeds of corruption and that the money would be channelled to appropriate projects that impact on the people.

    He, however, said government was yet to ‘name and shame’ those from whom looted money was recovered so as not to discourage restitution.

    Onyeama said Africa was blessed with various human and natural resources but that the enabling environments needed to be created for the continent to realise its full potentials.

    The Minister also said that majority of Nigerians were hard working and honest people who were found in every country in the world.

    On the reported skirmishes on the Bakassi Peninsula, Onyeama said there were no fewer than four million Nigerians in Cameroon, adding that Nigeria-Cameroon relations was cordial.

    He also disclosed that Nigeria was calling for the reform of the UN Security Council to reflect the current realities.

    According to him, Nigeria is pushing for two permanent members’ seats for Africa on the Council, adding that Nigeria was ready to serve Africa in that capacity.

    The theme for the UN General Assembly is: ‘Focusing on People: Striving for Peace and a Decent Life for All on a Sustainable Planet’, holding from Sept. 19 to 25.