President Muhammadu leaned further on European Union for their support for Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s candidate for the World Trade Organisation (WTO’s) director-general
According to a statement by the President Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the president held a video conference with Mr. Charles Michel, President of the European Council.
Adesina said that the EU Council president reiterated Europe’s support for Okonjo-Iweala as the next Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
“The President is leading Nigeria’s charge for Okonjo-Iweala, the country’s former Minister of Finance, to emerge as the first Black and female WTO DG.
President Buhari thanked the European Council for its support for Nigeria’s candidate’” Adesina said in the statement.
You may recall that Okonjo-Iweala had on Wednesday beat her only remaining competitor, South Korea’s trade minister, Yoo Myung-hee by winning 104 of 164 votes of member states.
However, the US which supports Yoo, had vetoed her subsequent adoption as the consensus candidate.
President Buhari also discussed issues bordering on debt relief for Africa, EU-African relations and recharge of the Lake Chad with Michel during the Friday conference.
Adesina said, “Recharge of the Lake Chad is an issue the Nigerian President had vigorously canvassed at diverse global fora in recent time.
“President Buhari expressed appreciation to Mr. Michel for expected positive developments on the issues.”
