From: AIDOGHIE PAULINUS, New York
President Muhammadu Buhari would be departing New York for London, Thursday morning.
The president left the Millennium Hilton Hotel, New York, at exactly 08:07a.m local time.
He was officially accompanied to the airport by the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations, Prof Tijjani Bande.
According to Daily Sun findings, the president departed the John F Kennedy International Airport at 10:00a.m.
On hand to bid the president farewell were the Minister of Foreign Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Minister of Defence, Brig-Gen Mansur Mohammed Dan-Ali; Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau; Minister of State, Environment, Ibrahim Jibrin; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, amongst others.
The venue of the United Nations Plaza Tower, however, became crowded due to scores of Nigerian officials who were either present to bid the president farewell or catch a glimpse of the President.
President Buhari had arrived in New York, on Sunday evening, to participate in the ongoing 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
He delivered Nigeria’s address, on Tuesday, during the General Debate of the General Assembly.
On the margins of the General Assembly, the President met with King Abdullah II of the Kingdom of Jordan and thanked him for the donation of military hardware in support of the fight against terrorism.
The President, with select African leaders, had had lunch with United States President Donald Trump, on Wednesday, with a response from Guinean President Alpha Conde.
The President also had bilateral meeting with the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres.
Guterres thanked Buhari for the fight against Boko Haram and corruption and also discussed the issue of the shrinking of water in the Lake Chad Basin.
“The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Secretary-General commended the Federal Republic of Nigeria for its efforts to fight Boko Haram and corruption.
“The Secretary-General and the President discussed efforts to restore livelihoods of people in the Lake Chad Basin countries, in particular, the need to resuscitate Lake Chad, which is drying up.
“The two leaders exchanged views on peace and security issues in Africa, including on the situation in Togo,” the statement issued by the United Nations on the outcome of the meeting said.