By our reporter| President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday said his government will not relent until Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is elected the next Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
The President who gave the assurance in a tweet following a video conference with the President of the European Council, Mr Charles Michel, thanked the council for its support for Dr Okonjo-Iweala.
Buhari’s Tweet read, ”Today I held a video conference with the President of the European Council, Mr Charles Michel. I thanked the Council for its support for @NOIweala, Nigeria’s candidate for position of Director-General of the World Trade Organisation. We will not relent until the goal is achieved”.
Also in a statement, Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, provided further details of issues discussed by President Buhari and Mr Michel,
According to Adesina, the council president reiterated the support of Europe for Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to become the next WTO chief.
He further noted that President Buhari is leading Nigeria’s charge for Okonjo-Iweala – the country’s former Minister of Finance – to emerge as the first black and female to occupy the office.
Also discussed during the conference were issues bordering on debt relief for Africa, EU-African relations and recharge of the Lake Chad.
The presidential aide said the lake has currently shrunk to less than one-third of its usual size, throwing “about 130 million people” who depend on it into dire straits.
“Recharge of the Lake Chad is an issue the Nigerian President had vigorously canvassed at diverse global fora in recent times.
“President Buhari expressed appreciation to Mr Michel for expected positive developments on the issues,” the statement said.
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