Category: PM News

The Parliament Support Network (PSN) has dismissed calls for the disqualification of Kingsley Chinda, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers state, describing the campaign against his candidacy as a politically motivated attempt to derail his participation in the 2027 election.

In a statement on Tuesday signed by its National President, Maxwell Idoko, the group said recent attempts to reopen questions around Chinda’s nomination should not be allowed to obscure what it described as the candidate’s compliance with the applicable electoral requirements.

The statement followed a request by the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP) asking the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disqualify Chinda following last week’s Supreme Court judgment on provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 relating to political party membership registers and candidate nomination.

PSN said the Supreme Court judgment should be applied according to its actual legal effect rather than used as a basis for creating a new dispute over Chinda’s candidacy.

‘The attempt to manufacture a disqualification where none has been established is, in our view, a distraction from the substance of the Supreme Court’s decision. Nigerians deserve to see the law applied objectively and consistently, rather than having every political development turned into an excuse to reopen a settled nomination process,’ Idoko said.

The group also cited the position of the Rivers APC, which has maintained that Chinda registered with the party 24 days before the governorship primary, exceeding the 21-day period referenced in the interpretation of the restored provisions.

Idoko noted that those seeking Chinda’s disqualification had failed to establish, on the publicly available facts, that the Supreme Court judgment automatically invalidated his nomination.

‘The relevant question is not whether some individuals are uncomfortable with Hon. Kingsley Chinda’s emergence, but whether the legal requirements governing his nomination were satisfied. The Rivers APC has stated that he became a member of the party 24 days before the primary, while the applicable requirement is 21 days. That factual position cannot simply be wished away because some interests are demanding his removal from the ballot,’ he declared.

PSN accused unnamed political interests of being unsettled by what it described as Chinda’s growing political profile in Rivers and alleged that some opponents were determined to prevent his emergence.

The group said it believed Nigerians should be allowed to judge candidates through the electoral process rather than through what it described as repeated attempts to manufacture legal controversies around their candidacies.

‘We are concerned that those who are uncomfortable with Hon. Chinda’s rising political profile and those who do not want to see Rivers State make progress are now attempting to manufacture a disqualification narrative around his candidacy. Political disagreements are legitimate, but they should not be converted into legal claims without a solid factual and legal foundation,’ Idoko said.

PSN also urged INEC to maintain neutrality and allow the courts to determine any genuine legal dispute arising from the nomination process.

It said the Supreme Court’s restoration of sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026 did not, by itself, amount to a judicial declaration that Chinda was disqualified from contesting the Rivers governorship election.

‘The electoral process must be protected from unnecessary disruption. If anyone has a genuine legal objection, the appropriate thing is to present the evidence before the competent court rather than attempt to create a disqualification by public pressure. Hon. Chinda’s candidacy should be determined by the law and the established electoral process,’ Idoko said.

PSN called on political actors and civic organisations to allow INEC and the courts to perform their constitutional responsibilities without intimidation or political pressure, saying the focus should remain on issues affecting the people of Rivers State ahead of the 2027 election.

The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has warned that Nigeria’s current level of investment is not enough to create the jobs required to support its growing population, calling for increased investment in businesses, infrastructure and human capital.

The private-sector-led policy advocacy group issued the warning in a statement ahead of the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit scheduled for October 26 and 27, 2026, in Abuja.

NESG said the country needs more productive investment to improve productivity, expand businesses and deliver the level of prosperity needed by millions of Nigerians.

According to the group, challenges including infrastructure gaps, limited access to long-term financing, regulatory uncertainty and high operating costs have continued to discourage productive investment.

NESG said while recent economic reforms aimed at stabilising the economy, improving fiscal sustainability and restoring investor confidence were important, they must be matched with stronger investment to generate meaningful opportunities.

The group stressed that economic stability must translate into increased business activity, higher incomes and job creation.

‘Nigeria needs greater investment in businesses, industries, infrastructure, innovation and human capital to support sustainable economic growth,’ the group said.

NESG noted that Nigeria adds an estimated 3.5 million new entrants to its labour force annually, increasing pressure on the economy to create enough employment opportunities.

It said the challenge is not only achieving economic growth but ensuring that growth creates jobs and improves living standards for Nigerians.

The warning comes ahead of the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit, which is themed ‘Growth that Works: Delivering Jobs, Productivity and Shared Prosperity.’

The summit is expected to bring together government officials, private sector leaders, development institutions and other stakeholders to discuss ways of increasing investment, improving productivity and expanding economic opportunities.

NESG said moving Nigeria from economic stabilisation to sustainable growth would require deliberate efforts to increase investment and strengthen the country’s productive capacity.

The Federal Government has called for integrated management of Nigeria’s rivers, forests, wetlands and watersheds to safeguard water resources, public health and livelihoods.

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, made the call on Monday in Abuja at the commemoration of the 2026 World Rivers Day.

Utsev said sustainable water resources management required coordinated action by governments, communities, traditional institutions, the private sector, development partners and civil society.

He said the theme of the celebration, ‘No Forests, No Rivers, No Water, No Life,’ underscored the interdependence between healthy ecosystems and sustainable water resources.

According to him, rivers support agriculture, food production, domestic and industrial water supply, fisheries, biodiversity, livelihoods and economic development.

He said forests, wetlands, floodplains and groundwater recharge areas helped protect river sources and regulate water flow, adding that their degradation threatened rivers and communities that depended on them.

Utsev said Nigeria’s rivers, including the Niger and Benue, as well as streams, wetlands and tributaries, constituted a shared national heritage requiring collective protection.

He identified population growth, urbanisation, untreated wastewater, indiscriminate dumping, agricultural runoff, erosion and sand mining among pressures threatening the country’s rivers.

The minister added that climate change, changing rainfall patterns, flooding and drought were compounding the challenges, requiring integrated management of watersheds and water resources.

He said the ministry was strengthening its capacity to collect, analyse and use data on rainfall, river flows, groundwater and water quality to support evidence-based water management.

Utsev said sanitation was central to river protection, noting that untreated sewage and wastewater could contaminate water sources, threaten public health, affect livelihoods and compromise water supplies.

He said 179 Local Government Areas had been validated as Open Defecation Free under the Clean Nigeria Campaign, while more than 5,238 public sanitation facilities had been supported nationwide.

‘These achievements reflect our commitment to keeping human waste out of our drains, streams and rivers,’ he said.

The minister urged Nigerians to stop open defecation and indiscriminate dumping of refuse, plastics and effluents into drains, streams and rivers.

He also called for conservation of forests and wetlands, responsible wastewater management, efficient water use and stronger collaboration among stakeholders.

Utsev said the government was identifying dams requiring rehabilitation and locations for new ones as part of measures to manage excess water and mitigate flooding.

He said the government was exploring private-sector participation in dam construction and rehabilitation, stressing that government alone could not undertake all the required projects.

The minister said the ministry was also engaging relevant state governments on water-resource management, including discussions with Kebbi on measures to manage water from the Lagdo Dam.

He urged young Nigerians to deploy education, technology, entrepreneurship and community action to tackle plastic pollution, open defecation, wastewater management and ecosystem degradation.

Utsev called on the media to sustain public awareness on the relationship between forests, rivers, water and sanitation, saying behavioural change was essential to protecting water resources.

He said the Federal Government would continue to strengthen policies, institutions and programmes aimed at sustainable water resources management and improved sanitation services nationwide.

Earlier, Ali Dallah, Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, said the choice of Wupa River as the venue provided an opportunity to demonstrate the need to protect and restore water bodies.

Dallah said activities for the celebration, including public enlightenment, environmental awareness and stakeholder engagement, were designed to encourage practical action to protect rivers.

He said Nigerian rivers faced pollution from domestic, industrial and agricultural activities, indiscriminate waste disposal, deforestation, erosion and uncontrolled development along river corridors.

According to him, the challenges had implications for water quality, public health, agriculture, biodiversity and the livelihoods of millions of Nigerians dependent on water resources.

Dallah said healthy forests and watersheds helped regulate water flows, reduce soil erosion, protect water quality, support groundwater recharge and maintain aquatic ecosystems.

He urged communities, institutions, businesses and individuals to support government efforts by preventing pollution, protecting watersheds and forests and promoting responsible waste management.

World Rivers Day is observed annually on the fourth Sunday of September to raise awareness of the importance of rivers and promote their conservation and sustainable management.

The event has grown into an international observance involving communities in more than 100 countries through activities such as river clean-ups, restoration projects, educational programmes and community events.

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has uncovered an alleged child trafficking operation involving newborn babies in Cross River.

The Head of Operations, NAPTIP, Cross River Command, Mr Jacob Oba, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Calabar on Monday.

Oba said the agency uncovered the operation following the interception of some women allegedly involved in acquiring babies through fraudulent pregnancy claims.

According to him three women in Obubura allegedly claimed to be pregnant with ‘cryptic pregnancies’ which they said could not be detected, meanwhile they had arranged with midwives to obtain newborn babies.

He said another woman from Akwa Ibom allegedly stole a week-old baby girl and sold the child to one of the women who claimed to have been pregnant, for N3 million.

He added that the suspect who bought the first baby and the other two were allegedly making arrangements to obtain additional babies when they were intercepted.

Oba said investigations had established that the sold baby’s biological mother was in Akwa Ibom, confirming that the week-old child had allegedly been stolen.

He added that the women involved were also suspected of operating baby factories, though the particular baby in the case was allegedly not obtained from the suspect’s facility.

The head of operation said the case came to the attention of security personnel after community members stopped a vehicle carrying the women and a baby.

‘The main buyer claimed to be the baby’s mother but could not breastfeed the child when security personnel asked her to do so.

‘The woman and the two others were taken for questioning, through which the alleged supplier of the child was subsequently arrested and confessed to selling the baby, leading to further investigation by NAPTIP.

Oba said the suspects were arrested on June 22, but had to be properly investigated before the matter was brought before the public.

He added that the matter would be charged to court, with further proceedings expected in October

Speaking at a high-level United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) side event organised by Vivacity Development, Nigeria’s Federal Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, issued a strong call for unified execution systems between government, private sector leaders and development partners to build accessible pathways for women and young girls across high-value sectors.

Addressing diplomats, global investors and civil society leaders, Minister Sulaiman-Ibrahim stressed that economic empowerment requires moving beyond viewing women as passive beneficiaries of social programmes.

Instead, stakeholders must establish clear entry points that enable women to participate as fabricators, owners and critical leaders across key value chains, including technology, artificial intelligence, fintech and clean energy.

‘We have to put heads together-the government and practitioners-to provide various pathways and entry points for women,’ stated Minister Sulaiman-Ibrahim.

‘Women should not only be beneficiaries of initiatives like clean cooking; they must be empowered to fabricate the technology, own the local skills and access multi-million-dollar credit tools to build real economic power.’

Highlighting national policy momentum under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the Minister pointed to the 35% Affirmative Procurement Policy, which mandates that over a third of public procurement contracts be reserved for women-owned and women-led enterprises.

Opening the session, Engr. Oluwakemi Ann-Melody Areola, Convener and CEO of Vivacity Development, emphasised the urgency of structural collaboration in preparing Africa’s next generation for the global economy.

‘Building sustainable economic mobility requires more than isolated interventions; it demands intentional alignment between government policy, private capital and practical skills development.

‘Our goal through this platform is to ensure young women and youth are not just included in the conversation, but are equipped to compete and lead in the global marketplace.’

The Minister reinforced that while government creates supportive policy frameworks and financial access mechanisms, private sector captains and practitioners are essential to scaling these solutions effectively.

About Vivacity Development

Vivacity Development is a global social enterprise and development practice dedicated to bridging the gap between raw talent, global institutional capital and market access.

Driven by a mission to democratise access to future-ready skills, close critical industry competency gaps and build sustainable economic mobility corridors across Africa, Vivacity Development creates research-driven interventions and strategic platforms that connect local potential with international opportunity.

A fresh disagreement has emerged between the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and support groups backing its 2027 presidential ticket over the party’s move to register and coordinate support organisations ahead of the election.

The development has sparked resistance from the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement and Kwankwasiyya groups, who insist that their structures should remain independent despite their support for the NDC presidential ticket.

In separate exclusive interviews with The Punch, representatives of the groups expressed reservations about the registration process, arguing that existing political movements should not be absorbed into the party structure.

The disagreement follows the NDC’s announcement that registration of support groups would be handled exclusively by its Directorate of Support Groups at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, had said the exercise was free and warned state chapters and officials against collecting fees or independently registering support groups.

He said the process was designed to properly coordinate organisations working with the party ahead of the 2027 election.

However, the Director-General of the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, John Ughulu, rejected the arrangement, saying the movement remained an independent political organisation.

Speaking exclusively with Punch, Ughulu said the movement would not allow its structure to be taken over or controlled by the party.

He argued that while the NDC had the right to create and manage its own campaign structures, independent organisations also had the right to maintain their own leadership and organisational systems.

‘The OK Movement therefore makes it clear that we will not accept any attempt by any individual or group to undermine, appropriate, dissolve or otherwise interfere with the legitimate structure and leadership of the movement,’ Ughulu said.

He added that the movement would resist any attempt to interfere with its operations.

‘The meaning of ‘independent’ is straightforward. The NDC has the right to constitute and manage its own campaign structures. Likewise, an independent political organisation has the right to constitute and manage its own organisational structures, subject always to the law,’ he said.

Meanwhile, spokesman of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Habibu Muhammed, called for understanding between the party and the support groups.

Muhammed said the disagreement was partly linked to the process of a new political party attempting to build its structures.

‘The truth is that the NDC is evolving and they are trying to do things differently. That is why there are some forms of misunderstanding here and there. But I believe that at the end of the day, everybody will be on the same page,’ he said.

He maintained that movements such as Kwankwasiyya and the Obidient Movement had historically operated independently of political parties.

According to him, many members of the groups were not necessarily members of the NDC but were supporting the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket because of their confidence in the candidates.

He urged the party to create a structure that would allow different support groups to operate while still working toward the same political objective.

‘The most important thing is for the party to understand this as well and work out something that will be better than just fixing things that are not literally important, as it is doing now,’ he said.

The National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko, however, appealed to the various groups to avoid disagreements that could distract from the 2027 election.

Tanko said the NDC remained the platform on which Peter Obi was contesting and urged supporters to focus on the broader political objective.

‘The party is a vehicle in which our principal is running. He is contesting on the platform of the NDC,’ he said.

Tanko added that any legitimate process that would help the party and its candidate should be supported.

The Federal Government says it plans to lift five million young Nigerians out of poverty through its skills acquisition and empowerment programmes aimed at promoting sustainable livelihoods.

The initiative, being implemented under the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS), is designed to equip young Nigerians with practical, market-relevant skills to enhance their economic independence and employability.

Dr Abiola Arogundade, Senior Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education (OSSAP-TVEE), coordinator of the programme, disclosed this on Monday in Ibadan at the commencement of the programme’s Oyo State phase, which will run from September 28 to October 9.

She said the training is part of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to empowering Nigerians through technical, vocational and entrepreneurial education.

Arogundade said the programme, which commenced in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), had moved to Oyo State and would be extended to other states and geopolitical zones across the country.

Under the Oyo State phase, 200 young Nigerians are being trained in Graphics and Artificial Intelligence (AI), makeup artistry and fashion designing.

Of the beneficiaries, 30 participants are undergoing training in Graphics/AI, while 85 each are receiving training in makeup artistry and fashion designing.

Arogundade said the initiative went beyond skills acquisition, adding that beneficiaries would be connected to organisations and business opportunities to support their transition into sustainable livelihoods.

‘So with this programme, we are training 200 people. We will also be distributing 500 tablets during the grand finale of the programme as part of the Federal Government’s digital empowerment drive.

‘We are directly empowering 700 people in this programme and there will be multiplier effect.

‘We are not just training them for themselves but we are training them for their communities, for the population, and for all the states in Nigeria,’ she said.

She urged participants to take the training seriously, maximise the opportunity and use their newly acquired skills to empower others within their communities.

I want to just encourage them to do their best.

‘I want to encourage them to know that President Bola Tinubu is thinking about all Nigerians, all young Nigerians in the country and ready to address their plights,’ she said.

The presidential aide reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to creating opportunities for young Nigerians to become economically self-reliant through practical training and entrepreneurship development.

Earlier, the keynote speaker for the Graphics/AI training, Mrs Oluronke Shonubi, said the growing adoption of artificial intelligence presented Nigeria with opportunities to accelerate development, improve employability and prepare young people for emerging jobs.

One of the beneficiaries, Idowu Olalere, a 400-level student of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for providing young Nigerians with opportunities to acquire emerging digital skills.

Olalere said the training would help bridge the gap between existing skills and evolving labour market requirements.

Two other beneficiaries, Mrs Iyabo Ajayi, a makeup trainee, and Fatunbi Joshua, a fashion designing trainee, also expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for the opportunity.

They expressed optimism that the initiative would contribute to reducing unemployment by equipping participants with practical skills and opportunities for self-employment.

At the conclusion of the training, participants will receive laptops, sewing machines and fully equipped makeup kits to support their entrepreneurial pursuits and facilitate the establishment of sustainable businesses.

The programme forms part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to promote inclusive economic growth, reduce poverty and expand opportunities for young Nigerians through technical and vocational education.

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has warned that any attempt to restore fuel subsidy would negatively affect ongoing development projects in Northern Nigeria.

Yilwatda spoke on Monday while receiving former candidates of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) who defected to the ruling party after withdrawing from various State House of Assembly races in the North.

The APC chairman argued that returning to fuel subsidy would reduce government revenue available for critical projects, including road construction, gas development and fertiliser initiatives.

‘The Hausa radio stations tell us that they will return the subsidy. I keep asking: How are they going to return the subsidy?’ Yilwatda said.

‘Do you mean they will stop all these road constructions because they want to return the subsidy? Because there will be no money for these constructions?’

He cited ongoing road projects across the region, including the Abuja-Kano and Kano-Maiduguri corridors, arguing that the scale of federal infrastructure investment in the North showed that the region was benefiting from current policies.

Yilwatda also questioned whether restoring subsidy would affect other programmes, including gas projects, fertiliser supply, compressed natural gas (CNG) initiatives and student loan schemes.

‘The gas they are bringing to the North will come with fertiliser, and we in the North need that fertiliser to farm. Do you mean they should stop it?’ he asked.

‘Should most of our people who cannot afford school fees go back to being wheelbarrow pushers in the villages?’

The APC chairman also defended the administration’s record in the North, rejecting claims that the region had been neglected.

He listed several ongoing projects, including roads linking Abuja to Kano, Kano to Maiduguri, Jos to Akwanga, Sokoto to Kebbi, Kano to Daura and Zaria to Danja.

Yilwatda also argued that the removal of fuel subsidy had helped states regain financial stability, recalling that several states, particularly in the North, struggled to pay salaries before the Tinubu administration came into office.

The warning came as the APC welcomed former ADC candidates into its fold ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The defectors, led by Princess Aslam Aliyu, popularly known as Gimbiyar Kauran Namoda, said their decision was based on a desire to contribute to the development agenda of the ruling party.

Mohammed Hassan, an ADC candidate from Zamfara State, who spoke on behalf of the group, said they were joining the APC to support President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

‘We are not here merely to change the political platform, but to begin a new chapter of service and make a great contribution to our people,’ Hassan said.

Yilwatda urged the defectors to return to their states and local government areas to strengthen the party’s structures ahead of the 2027 elections.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed Nov. 19 for judgment in a suit challenging the emergence of former Governor Yahaya Bello as the senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for Kogi Central.

Justice Inyang Ekwo fixed the date after Bello, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) prayed the court to dismiss the suit.

They urged the court to dismiss the suit filed by Chief Momoh Obaro, seeking to void the ex-governor APC senatorial ticket.

Obaro, in the suit marked: FHC/ABK/CS/1085/2026 filed by his lawyer, Kimi Appah, had sued APC, Bello and INEC as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.

The plaintiff, in the originating summons filed on May 29, urged the court to declare that having scored the highest number of lawful votes cast on May 18 primary poll, he was the lawful winner whose name should be forwarded to INEC as APC’s candidate.

He, therefore, prayed the court to restrain APC from forwarding Bello’s name as party’s candidate to INEC for the 2027 senatorial poll.

Obaro also sought an order of mandamus compelling the APC to forthwith recognise and forward his name to INEC as duly and validly nominated candidate for the senatorial seat, among others.

In the affidavit he personally deposed to, Obaro alleged that Bello was not screened and cleared as aspirant in the poll.

He said he was, however, shocked to hear that Bello was declared the winner of the election and his name forwarded to INEC.

He prayed the court to grant his reliefs.

Also in his further affidavit in response to Bello’s counter affidavit, Obaro alleged that though the ex-governor completed and submitted his Expression of Interest (EoI) Form and Nomination Form in respect of the primary election, Bello allegedly withdrew from the poll voluntarily.

He said the said letter of voluntary withdrawal was submitted to the APC’s appropriate authorities and was never withdrawn by him before the conduct of the primary election.

But Bello denied withdrawing from the contest, urging the court to dismiss the suit.

In his preliminary objection filed by Joseph Daudu, SAN, the ex-governor prayed the court to dismiss the suit in limine for being fundamentally defective, incompetent and for vesting no jurisdiction on the court to adjudicate thereon.

Daudu argued that the plaintiff’s written address failed to comply with the mandatory provision of Paragraph (7) of the Federal High Court (Pre-Election) Practice Directions, 2026 (as amended), among other reliefs.

Bello, in his counter affidavit he deposed to, said contrary to Obaro’s claim, he scored the highest number of lawful votes while the plaintiff polled a distant third place.

He said while the plaintiff polled 188 votes, he scored 72, 999 votes.

He argued that Obaro had failed to produce before the court the authentic and official result sheet by the duly constituted primary election committee.

He said he was screened, cleared and certified and found qualified to contest in the poll, contrary to the plaintiff’s claim.

He said following his declaration as winner of the poll monitored by INEC, the party submitted his name as valid candidate.

He vehemently denied withdrawing from the election in his further counter affidavit.

APC and INEC, in their separate court documents, also urged the court to dismiss the suit.

In its counter affidavit deposed to by Muhammad Ayuba, an administrative officer in Litigation and Prosecution Department, INEC said it monitored the election in compliance with the laws.

The commission said the election which was contested by three aspirants, was won by Bello, having polled the highest number of valid votes and was returned as the winner of the primary.

‘All the reports from the electoral officers who monitored the primary at various wards in the five LGAs constituting the Kogi Central Senatorial District clearly shows that the election was conducted substantially in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.’

When the case was called on Monday, A. T. Hassan, SAN, counsel for the Obaro, adopted all their processes and urged the court to grant their prayers, including their motion to amend the main suit.

APC’s lawyer, Ibrahim Mohammed, SAN; Bello’s counsel, Paul Daudu, SAN, and INEC’s lawyer, S.A. Omole, urged the judge to dismiss the suit.

After listening to the parties, Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter until Nov. 19 for ruling on motion to amend or judgment.

Vice- President Kashim Shettima has returned to Nigeria, after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, held in New York, United States.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Mr Stanley Nkwocha, made this known in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

Nkwocha recalled that Shettima had departed Abuja on Sept. 20 with the mandate of President Tinubu to lead Nigeria’s delegation to the annual global event.

He said during the visit, VP delivered Tinubu’s National Statement at the UNGA’s General Debate, where Nigeria renewed its call for reform of the UN Security Council.

The presidential aide also said that Nigeria demanded permanent African representation, fairer global financing, stronger climate support and deeper multilateral cooperation.

Nkwocha said that Shettima participated in the Third High-Level Roundtable of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, where Tinubu urged African countries to move beyond raw mineral exports towards processing, manufacturing and value addition.

Similarly, he said at the high-level education financing event co-hosted by Nigeria and Italy, Shettima reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to education as a critical investment in productivity, human capital and national prosperity.

Nkwocha ????????added that while supporting the Global Partnership for Education’s $5 billion financing campaign, the vice president also met with Nigerians in the Diaspora, where he stressed the importance of their investment, expertise and networks to national development.

‘Other major engagements included meetings with the new leadership of the ECOWAS Commission, as well as UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed.’

Nkwocha noted that across the meetings, Shettima advanced Nigeria’s positions on development financing, regional integration, economic cooperation, technology, peace and security.

‘He also reaffirmed President Tinubu’s call for a more representative and equitable global order. ‘