The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, on Tuesday evening arrived Nigeria on a two-day official visit to Africa’s most populous country.
According to the United Nations information center in Nigeria, Guterres is expected to meet with the Borno State governor, Babagana Zulum in Maiduguri, the state capital before embarking on a field mission where he will meet families affected by the Boko Haram conflict ravaging the region for more than 12 years.
The UN chief also expected to evaluate the impact of climate change on vulnerable communities and assess progress made as well as the challenges to the COVID-19 recovery.
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From there, he is scheduled to head to Abuja to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osibanjo and other top cabinet officials.
In Abuja, Guterres is expected to officiate a wreath-laying ceremony for victims of the 2011 bombing at the U.N. house and will then meet with young people’s delegates, women, religious leaders and diplomatic communities and journalists.
The UN secretary-general condemned the escalating violence via his verified Twitter account.
He wrote; ‘I condemn the escalation of violence in Lagos, Nigeria, which has resulted in multiple deaths & injuries. I call for demonstrations to be peaceful and for an end to reported police brutality and abuses.’
‘Authorities must investigate these incidents & hold perpetrators accountable’.
It is the first visit by the U.N. secretary-general to Nigeria since his appointment. The visit is part of his annual Ramadan solidarity visits to nations.