**President to attend high-level UN meetings on energy, education, healthcare

***Nigeria to showcase reform agenda, deepen UN-backed West Africa border security initiative

President Bola Tinubu will return to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) this September to present Nigeria’s reform agenda before world leaders and advance fresh regional security initiatives aimed at strengthening border policing across West Africa, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, has disclosed.

Ibrahim spoke to State House Correspondents after he briefed the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on preparations for the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

He said President Tinubu had accepted the invitation to attend the annual global gathering and would use the opportunity to highlight the successes of his administration’s economic and governance reforms.

“I came in from New York to speak with the President in preparation for the United Nations General Assembly,” Ibrahim said.

“The President has generously agreed to attend the UN meeting. It is significant because Mr President has a speech to deliver to the whole world on the reform successes recorded in Nigeria. That has already been scheduled for September.”

According to the envoy, the President is also expected to participate in a number of high-level side events focusing on energy, education and healthcare, although efforts are being made to streamline his engagements.

“There are side-event meetings for Mr President to attend, including one on power and energy. There is another on education as well as hospital management. We discussed these and, graciously, the President gave us his word that he will come to UNGA this September,” he said.

Beyond Nigeria’s participation at the General Assembly, Ibrahim said discussions with the President also focused on strengthening regional security through enhanced border policing across West Africa in collaboration with the United Nations.

He said Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to tackling the security threats posed by porous borders and had issued specific directives to advance regional cooperation.

“The President also demonstrated his commitment to border policing. This time around, he will be working with the United Nations to address the challenge of porous borders in West Africa,” Ibrahim stated.

“A lot of peacekeeping efforts will be channelled in that direction. From our discussions, I can assure you that the President is going to devote significant attention to border policing across West Africa.”

While declining to disclose details of the initiative, Ibrahim hinted that new measures would soon be unveiled to bolster security across the sub-region.

“I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag, but I can tell you that positive developments are coming for Nigeria and the West African sub-region in the area of border policing.

“He gave specific directives on what should be done immediately, and I will be returning to the United Nations to brief officials on Nigeria’s position and the need to adopt West Africa as a case study in border policing to guarantee our collective security.”

He stressed that the United Nations considers border security a critical element of regional peace and stability.

“As far as we are concerned, West Africa border policing is very important. Our President is deeply committed, and I can assure you that the United Nations will support these efforts,” he added.

On speculation that President Tinubu could hold his first face-to-face meeting with United States President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the General Assembly, Ibrahim declined to comment directly but revealed that the Nigerian leader would occupy a prominent position during the opening session.

“I won’t be able to tell you whether there will be a meeting, but I can tell you clearly that President Tinubu will be sitting very close to President Donald Trump in the front row of the United Nations General Assembly,” he said.

“Don’t ask me how that was arranged, but Mr President of Nigeria will be seated in the front row and will deliver his address at about 10:45 am New York time, which will be around 2:00 pm in Nigeria, ensuring Nigerians can follow his speech live.”

Ibrahim also disclosed that he would present the United Nations’ proposed 2027 budget in his capacity as Chairman of the UN Budget Committee.

Tinubu has attended the UN General Assembly once since assuming office. He made his debut at the 78th Session in September 2023, where he addressed world leaders on governance reforms, climate change, investment and regional security.

The President did not attend the 79th Session in 2024, opting instead to significantly reduce Nigeria’s delegation as part of his administration’s cost-saving measures. He directed that only government officials with direct responsibilities for scheduled meetings should travel to New York, underscoring his commitment to fiscal discipline.