By Hassan Zaggi
An international humanitarian Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), United Towns Agency (UTA), has concluded plans for a Libyan delegation to visit Nigeria.
UTA is affiliated with the United Nations (UN).
Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, the General Secretary of the UTA, Ms Eya Essif, disclosed that the visit is part of initiatives by the Libyan government to restore once robust relationship existing between Libyan and other African countries.
“Apart from coming to have a first-hand information on how UTA Nigeria is progressing, I am also here as an advance party in respect of the visit of ministerial team from Libya which is due to arrive Nigeria early next week.
“The Libyan delegates to be led by the Libyan Minister in charge of African Affairs, His Excellency, Issa Majid Mansour Drchoe is coming to Nigeria as part of initiatives by the Libyan government to restore once robust relationship existing between Libyan and other African countries.
“During the visit, the Libyan delegation will also discuss on how the traditional rulers from Nigeria will visit Libya to see things for themselves and have discussions with their Libyan counterparts, Libyan government officials and Nigeria community in Libya.
“Also part of the schedule during this visit will be to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between UTA and Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) on the import of using sports, especially football as a tool to achieve peace, inclusion and financial literacy among women and girl child in communities,” says the UTA General Secretary.
On his part, the Board Chairman of the UTA in Nigeria, Alhaji Usman Nga-Kupi, the Sapeyi of Garki, commended the UTA in Nigeria, vowing that the traditional institution will do everything possible to ensure that UTA achieves its objectives in Nigeria.
“We are going to collaborate with you to ensure that the aim and objectives of UTA are achieved in Nigeria,” the Royal Father said.
Responding to questions from Journalists on the efforts of the traditional institution to reduce insecurity in the FCT, the royal father said: “All we have been doing is to protect, secure and ensure peaceful coexistence between the communities and the government.
“First and foremost, security has become a challenge to us, but I want to commend the Minister of the FCT, the Commissioner of Police and other security agencies.
“We have been having series of meetings to see how we can address the challenge of insecurity in the FCT.
“At my own level too, I have been having meetings with my district heads and other community, religious and youth leaders on how we can get the security aspect addressed.
“In order words, we have been synergizing between the locals and security apparatus. The minister of the FCT have been very active. He comes out almost on daily basis to see that all hideouts of criminals are cleared.”
The royal father, therefore, called on all residents of the FCT to cooperate with the government to enable it address the security situation of the FCT.
Speaking, a member of the UTA Board, Dr. Abubakar Jimoh, noted that UTA is committed to reversing the ugly trend of the young people leaving the country to other countries of the world through illegal routes.
“One important aspect of UTA is how to reverse the ugly trend of migration among our youths who are crossing the Mediterranean Sea through Libya.
“Nigeria is badly affected by the way young people leave the shores of the country through the Mediterranean sea, hence, the reason the UTA is coming to address the trend,” Dr. Jimoh explained.
He disclosed that the UTA Nigeria has done a lot in an effort to achieve its objectives in Nigeria in the past one year.
Another major highlight of the visit of the UTA General Secretary is the formal inauguration of the UTA office in Nigeria with dignitaries from all works of life in attendance.
