By Chioma Obinna

An international humanitarian organisation affiliated with the United Nations, the United Towns Agency, has taken steps to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation and attainment of Sustainable Development Goals between Nigeria and Libya.

The UTA Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and its Country Office in Nigeria are leading the Libyan Minister of African Affairs, Ambassador Issa Majid Mansour, and his delegation on an economic-diplomatic visit to strengthen existing bilateral trade relations between the two countries.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, the visiting UTA Secretary General, Ambassador Eya Essif, said several meetings between Nigerian Foreign Affairs Officials, Nigerian Traditional Rulers, Nigerian Women Football League, and Libyan delegation have been scheduled in this regard.

Essif said that the UTA, Libyan, and Italian governments are involved in a tripartite arrangement to put an end to the horrendous suffering and deaths of Nigerian illegal migrants seeking to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Europe.

The Secretary-General explained that part of the arrangements is the introduction of a skills acquisition programme for the training of young Nigerian artisans who will ultimately and legitimately be hired in Europe.

The UTA Country President in Nigeria, Ambassador Abigail Amalaha enumerated the various humanitarian programmes and achievements of the UTA in the last year and assured that the visit of Ambassador Essif will further spur her and her team to achieve more.

Ambassador Amalaha said the UTA will collaborate with various ministries and agencies to achieve SDGs and tackle the humanitarian crisis and poverty in some parts of the country.

The UTA Office in Abuja was officially inaugurated by Ambassador Essif, Chairman of the UTA Board of Trustees, Dr. Usman Nga Kupi (Emir of Abuja), Ambassador Amalaha, Dr Abubakar Jimoh and other UTA Board Members.