Tinubu will sit very close to Trump at 81st UNGA — Jimoh Ibrahim

Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, has said President Bola Tinubu will be seated close to United States President Donald Trump during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September.

Ibrahim disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents after a meeting with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.

According to him, Tinubu will occupy a front-row seat during the General Debate alongside other world leaders.

ALSO READ: Israeli strike kills 10-year-old, eight other Palestinians in Gaza

Responding to a question on whether the Nigerian President would hold a bilateral meeting with Trump, Ibrahim said he could not confirm such an engagement but noted that Tinubu would be seated close to the US President.

“I won’t be able to tell you that, but I can tell you clearly that President Tinubu will be sitting very close to Donald Trump in the front row of the United Nations General Assembly. Don’t ask me how that was arranged, but he will be sitting,” he said.

Ibrahim said President Tinubu would use the global gathering to present his administration’s achievements over the past three years and engage with world leaders on issues of national and regional importance.

He added that the President reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to working with the United Nations on strengthening border policing across West Africa to address cross-border security challenges.

According to Ibrahim, Tinubu intends to advocate greater international support for coordinated border security efforts in the region.

“The President reiterated his commitment to border policing. This time around, the President will be working with the United Nations to look into the West Africa border.

“A lot of peacekeeping effort is coming in here. I can assure you the President is going to put a lot of effort into border policing for West African countries,” he said.

He further disclosed that the President plans to present West Africa as a case study for enhanced UN-backed border policing during discussions at the UN headquarters.

Ibrahim also said Tinubu is scheduled to address the General Assembly on his administration’s reform agenda.

“He has a speech to give to the whole world about his reform success in Nigeria, and that has been slated for September. So Nigeria will be effectively represented at UNGA.

“There are side event meetings for Mr. President to attend, which include power generation, energy, education and hospital management. But we don’t want to crowd his itinerary,” he added.