President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, thanked the European Council for its support for Nigeria’s candidate, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as the next Director-General (DG) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
President Buhari, who 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, spoke while holding a video conference with Mr Charles Michel, President of the European Council.
- Nigeria vows to ensure Okonjo-Iweala emerges WTO DG
- US opposes appointment of Okonjo-Iweala as WTO’s Director General
During the meeting, Mr Michel restated Europe’s support for Nigeria’s Okonjo-Iweala as the next WTO DG.
Okonjo-Iweala is currently having the majority endorsement amongst members but the US is opposing her candidacy.
Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, in a statement, said other issues discussed during the conference focused on debt relief for Africa, EU-African relations and recharge of the Lake Chad, which has currently shrunk to less than one-third of its usual size, and throwing about 130 million people who depend on the Lake into dire straits.
Adesina said recharge of the Lake Chad is an issue President Buhari had vigorously canvassed at diverse global fora in recent time.
He said the President voiced appreciation to Mr Michel for expected positive developments on the issues.
