Too Bad! See How Nigeria's UN Mission Embarrassed President Buhari in New York

For head of Nigerian Mission to the UN and Ambassador, Joy Ogwu failing in her duty not to adequately brief the President or coordinating his visit in the USA, has caused a national embarrassment.

Nigerian Permanent Mission to the United Nations, lead by Ambassador Joy Ogwu, has reportedly mismanaged President Buhari’s official schedule which has resulted in several missed opportunities and embarrassing moments for the President and his official delegation to the United States.

Early Saturday, Reuters news agency reported that Nigeria had no official representation at a High Level Meeting on insecurity and displaced people in the Lake Chad Basin region. Nigeria was the only major player not present during the meeting, which was organized by the United Nations Under-Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs, Stephen O’Brien, which resulted in international diplomats to say they were disappointed in Nigeria’s conduct.

A Nigerian official speaking on the condition of anonymity told a correspondent on Saturday saying "at the very least the National Security Adviser should have been present at the meeting." The NSA Major General (Rtd) Monguno is attached the President Buhari’s official delegation.

The Cable reported that President Buhari "was also prevented from meeting with Pope Francis because he was not properly briefed by the Nigerian UN mission staff."

According to The Cable report, "The pope delivered a speech at the general assembly on Friday at 10am. Not only was Buhari made to come in late to the meeting because of untidy arrangements, he also took a wrong gate rather than the one reserved for presidents and heads of state. He was subsequently prevented from seeing the pope by security operatives because of his late arrival."

A high level member of President Buhari’s official delegation on condition of anonymity, told a correspondent "the President did have problems with accreditation before the Pope’s speech. The protocol officers were not adequately briefed," he said.

It was learned that protocol and accreditation is the responsibility of Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations.

SaharaReporters obtained the official schedule of President Buhari and members of his delegation which did not have the High Level meeting between the Lake Chad Basin official and the top UN Aid Chief Mr. O’Brien on it.

This same high-level source confirmed that it was Ambassador Ogwu’s office who developed the schedule and it was her office that chose not to place that High Level meeting on it.

This source disclosed in a phone chat that "if I had to say it, many members of the [official Nigeria] delegation are not happy. Could things have been better organized? Yes."

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