President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria has addressed world leaders at the 70th United Nations Assembly in New York
Buhari has departed Nigeria on September 25, Thursday. The president plans to hold series of meetings and interactions with notable world leaders there.
The president’s talks would mainly be on domestic developmental issues, bilateral relations, the war against insurgency and countering violent extremism
President Buhari is accompanied by the team of 21 politicians, including the governors of Sokoto, Kaduna and Niger states, the National Security Adviser and the permanent secretaries in the Federal Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defence, Finance, Health, Industry and Trade and Investment.
During the speech he promised that his government will address the problem of capital flight and oil theft which have seriously affected the Nigerian economy.
Nigerian leader similarly restated his commitment to transparency and accountability in the way in which the country’s revenues are managed, noting that aside attempts being made to improve and streamline internally generated revenue in the country, he would also plug all loopholes.
BUHARI'S FULL ADDRESS:
“Excellencies, Ladies and
Gentlemen, I welcome you to this important event. Let me express Nigeria’s
sincere appreciation to UN-AIDS for the support and collaboration in organizing
this event.
2. We are on the threshold of
history as world leaders adopt the successor development agenda to the
Millennium Development Goals. For over 30 years, HIV as a public health
challenge has been causing havoc and untold hardship in virtually every part of
the world. To date, several million children have been orphaned and some
communities have been devastated, while economic activities have been
disrupted.
3. Unfortunately, Sub -Saharan
Africa bears a disproportionate burden of this epidemic. The good news is that
the effort of the global community has resulted in greater control, less spread
and better management.
4. Furthermore, we have made
significant progress towards the interception of mother to child transmission
of HIV. In 2014 alone, over 3million pregnant women were tested for HIV and
63,000 of these tested women, accessed anti – retroviral therapy. Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
5. What is required in our
continued fight against HIV/AIDS is improved health delivery system, education,
and cheaper production of anti – retroviral drugs through technology exchange.
Our countries should also look at the whole field of medicare and strengthen
our partnership with all stakeholders including the civil society, inter- faith
and cultural bodies for education and dissemination of information at all
levels. Nigeria will also like to call upon all pharmaceutical companies for
more cooperation and understanding in reducing the cost of anti – retroviral
drugs through production of generic items. Excellencies, Distinguished
Delegates.
6. Nigeria will continue to work
with development partners and key stakeholders to strengthen the means of
implementation of the SDGs as elaborated in the Post- 2015 Development Agenda.
At the continental level, Nigeria remains fully committed to the outcome of the
Abuja process as evident in the 2002 Declaration, the Action Framework on Roll
– Back Malaria. In addition, the 2013 Abuja + 12 Declaration is a strong commitment
towards eliminating HIV and AIDs in Africa by 2030. Globally, the United
Nations Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS of 2011 is a major reference
point for intensifying efforts to eliminate the epidemic.
7. Nigeria appreciates the
support of our development partners for their support and commitment to the
total eradication of HIV/AIDs, Tuberculosis and Malaria as well as other deadly
communicable diseases, for example Ebola, when an epidemic arises.
8. I therefore encourage you to
continue in your efforts to sustain the fight against infant and maternal
deaths, HIV and AIDs, Tuberculosis, Malaria and other communicable diseases,
high on the global development agenda.
9. Let us work together to make HIV and AIDs history by 2030.”
INFO CREDIT: naij.com
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