President Muhammadu Buhari has commissioned the rebuilt the
UN House that was bombed in august, 2011 in Abuja.
Buhari used the occasion to reiterate
the nation’s resolve to stand firm in the face of any act of terrorism. The
commissioning of the rebuilt UN house also coincide with the 2019 UN Day
anniversary
Represented by the
Minister, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Malam Muhammad Musa Bello at the
occassion, Buhari stressed that the efforts of the UN over the years in
confronting global issues such as international conflicts, health and
humanitarian matters, climate change and environmental degradation, have
continued to yield positive results around the world.
Mark Lowcock, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, represented yesterday the United Nations Secretary-General at the official handover of the UN house in the Nigerian capital Abuja.
“The Nigerian Government handing over this building to the UN is a symbol of our shared commitment to continue supporting the people and Government of Nigeria,” Mr. Lowcock said.
On 26 August 2011, 23 people including UN staff and Nigerian civilians died in a suicide car bombing at the UN house in Abuja. This was the first attack against a UN facility in Nigeria. The building has since been rehabilitated by the Nigerian Government.
“Nigeria has been a key actor since it became a member of the United Nations in 1960, only eight days after its independence,” highlighted the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations. “Today’s reopening of the UN House in Abuja demonstrates our collective commitment to continue addressing the complex challenges facing Nigeria, west Africa, and the whole world.”
United Nations Day highlights the enduring ideals of the Charter and the universal values it was founded upon – peace, freedom, social progress, equal rights and human dignity. United Nations Day 2019 marks the beginning of the UN’s 75th anniversary in 2020 and is devoted to “the Future We Want, the UN we need: Reaffirming our Commitment to Multilateralism”.
During his two-day visit to Nigeria, Mr Lowcock is also discussing the humanitarian situation in the northeastern states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe. The United Nations and its humanitarian partners, in support of the Government of Nigeria, are working together to provide assistance to reach 6.2 million people in these states.
• Marc Philips
