5 Facts you need to know about the President’s upcoming trip to the U.S

princess abumere

September 12, 2017 12:18 PM

The Nigerian President's visit to the United Nation's headquarters in New York is first public event he'll be attending outside the country since his returned from medical leave.

President Muhammadu Buhari will be travelling to the United States of America next week.

This news was confirmed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

Earlier in the month when it was reported the Nigerian president would be travelling to the U.S, this was met with denial from the Federal Government.

In a statement, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed denied this information calling it fake news. His statement came following a tweet put out by a parody account which said the President was travelling to sympathize with victims of the Houston floods. The President's Personal Assistant on Social Media Lauretta Onochie also clarified that the President always keeps Nigerians informed on any upcoming trips.

"It's not true that is Set For a USA Trip tomorrow, Monday 4/9/2017. Pres Buhari always informs Nigerians of his trips," she tweeted on September 3.

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Now that news of this particular trip to the United Nations has been confirmed, here are five things you need to know about the President Buhari’s upcoming trip.

1. Buhari is travelling to speak at the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly(UNGA 72) in New York on Tuesday, September 19, 2017.

UNGA 72 takes place from September 12 to September 25, 2017.

2. He’ll be the eighth speaker at the 72nd session. Shehu confirmed this. “I cannot tell you the time he will be going because it can change but I know he is expected to be the eighth speaker at the UN. So, he will be there and he will speak,” he told the Punch Newspapers.

3. According to the publication, the President will address the general assembly after the presidents of Brazil, Guinea, Jordan, the United States, Switzerland, and Slovakia.

4. This is the first public event he’ll be attending outside of Nigeria since his return from medical leave in August, 2017.

5. This is not the first time he’ll be addressing the UN General Assembly. On September 20, 2016, he spoke at the 71st UN General Assembly.

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In his speech last year, President Buhari addressed the UNGA on objectives of his administration which included the fight against Boko Haram and corruption. He also spoke on climate change, youth development and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

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