SECRETARY-GENERAL'S VISITS TO NIGERIA, GHANA, UNITED KINGDOM 29 JUNE - 4 JULY
Press Release
SG/T/2144
SECRETARY-GENERAL'S VISITS TO NIGERIA, GHANA, UNITED KINGDOM 29 JUNE - 4 JULY
19980708 (Delayed in transmission.)On Monday, 29 June, the Secretary-General began a visit to Nigeria in an effort to facilitate the process of the country's return to civilian rule. In Abuja he was welcomed by Chief Tom Ikimi, the Nigerian Foreign Minister, who hosted a dinner in his honour.
The next day, the delegation headed by the Secretary-General met with General Abdulsalam Abubakar, the Nigerian Head of State. The meeting was followed by a private conversation between General Abubakar and the Secretary- General. They discussed the critical transition process to democratic rule in Nigeria, as well as the regional security concerns, particularly the situations in Sierra Leone and Liberia.
On the same day the Secretary-General met with Dagogo Jack, Chairman of the National Election Commission, and Justice Nwokedi, Chairman of the Human Rights Commission. He had a telephone conversation with Olusegun Obasanjo, the former Head of state, and met with Christina Anyanwu, winner of this years's UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize, both of whom had been recently released from prison.
Later that evening the Secretary-General met with Chief Moshood Abiola, the former presidential candidate, currently imprisoned by authorities.
On 1 July, the Secretary-General met with heads of United Nations agencies in Nigeria. He late met with the traditional rules' consultative council, whose members had travelled from all parts of Nigeria to see him. They presented their views on the transition process in the country. He also met with members of several Nigerian citizens' groups, representing business, labour, media and women.
Later that day, the Secretary-General met with the Presidents of Liberia and Sierra Leone, Charles T. Taylor and Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, respectively, who had arrived in Nigeria for a regional summit. The Secretary-General and the Nigerian Head of State co-chaired the summit, which addressed a number of regional and subregional issues. Those included ways in which security and cooperation between the neighbouring States of Liberia and
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Sierra Leone could be further improved. In the evening, he attended a dinner for the participants in the mini-summit hosted by the Nigerian Head of State.
On Thursday, 2 July, the Secretary-General gave a press conference in Abuja on the result of the three-day trip to Nigeria. "I found a very widespread feeling that the answer to Nigeria's problems has to be found by Nigerians themselves", Mr. Annan said, opening the press conference. "But I also made clear to the Head of State and to others whom I have met that I and the United Nations -- and, I am sure, the international community -- stand ready to do whatever we can to assist the process. That is why I began a dialogue with General Abacha more than a year ago on such issues as the release of political prisoners, clemency for General Diya and others and the need for a return to democracy in Nigeria."
In the evening the Secretary-General left Abuja for Accra, Ghana. Shortly after his arrival he met with the President of Ghana, Jerry J. Rawlings, and Foreign Minister Victor Gbeho.
On 3 July the Secretary-General gave a press conference and among other things said that the United Nations would be prepared to help Nigeria find solutions to the country's problems. "We may be able to help in the area of elections", he said. "On the economic and social fronts, the United Nations agencies are very actively engaged on the ground, but I would hope that as Nigeria moves forward towards civilian rule and return to democracy, all the multilateral funding institutions, the International Monetary Fund, the World Band and other major donors will engage Nigeria constructively and help her develop her economy and bring prosperity to the people of Nigeria."
On 4 July the Secretary-General left Accra for London. There he met with the British Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary, Robin Cook, and briefed him on the results of his trip to Nigeria. The Secretary-General left London later the same day for New York.
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