Dakar, November 23, 2024 - As part of UNOWAS’s continued engagement to support the countries of the sub-region in their efforts to consolidate peace and security, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Leonardo Santos Simão, today concluded a five-day working visit to the Nigerian capital, Abuja.

The Special Representative held a series of meetings with national authorities, as well as with ECOWAS’s officials. He met with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dunoma Umar Ahmed; the Minister of Justice, Attorney General, Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi SAN;  Vice President of the Senate and Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Senator Barau Jibrin; the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Aliou Touray; and with former President of Nigeria, H.E Goodluck Jonathan.  He also met with the United Nations Country team and the diplomatic corps.

The discussions with his interlocutors focused on various issues pertaining to peace and security in the sub-region and on ways to further reinforce regional coordination and partnership to tackle the many challenges facing the countries of the sub-region. He also discussed the remaining steps towards the finalization of the border demarcation process as part of the Cameroun-Nigeria Mixed Commission mandate.

The Special Representative praised Nigeria's leadership role, particularly in the Lake Chad Basin, West Africa, and the Sahel, and reaffirmed the UN's continued commitment to working closely with the Nigerian government and people to promote peace, security and development in the country and in the sub-region.