Buhari Departs For Abidjan COP-15 Conference

President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to leave Abuja for Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire on Sunday, to attend a United Nations organised conference on the future of land, regarding desertification, drought, degradation, rights, restoration and implications for national and world economies.

A statement issued by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), on Sunday, informed that President Buhari, who would participate in a Summit of Head of States and Government, May 9th-10th, 2022, would join world leaders at Sofitel Hotel, for the 15th session of the Conference Of the parties (COP15) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), with the theme, “Land. Life. Legacy: From scarcity to prosperity.”

It explained that the convention aims to take action to ensure that land, the lifeline on the planet, continues to benefit present and future generations.

The statement reads, “To achieve the visionary objective of land restoration and balance, COP15 will bring together leaders from governments, the private sector, civil society and other key stakeholders from around the world to drive progress in the future of sustainable management of one of the most precious assets, land.

“The convention will explore links between land and other key development issues, which will be discussed during the high-level segment, including a Heads of States Summit, high-level roundtables and interactive dialogue sessions.

“COP 15 is a key moment in the fight against desertification, land degradation and drought. Accordingly, it will build on the findings of the second edition of the Global Land Outlook and offer a concrete response to the interconnected challenges of land degradation, climate change and biodiversity loss as the world steps into the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

“Drought, land restoration, and related enablers such as land rights, gender equality and youth empowerment are among the top items on the Conference agenda.”

It further stated that with President on the trip are the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Environment, Mohammed H. Abdullahi, Minister of Agriculture, Dr Mahmoud Mohammed and Minister of Water Resources, Engr Suleiman H. Adamu.

Also, on the President’s team to Abidjan are the National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Monguno, Director General, National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar and Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri- Erewa.