FG restates commitment to ensuring Okonjo-Iweala emerges WTO DG

The Federal Government on Thursday restated its commitment to ensuring that Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala emerges as the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement titled ‘Update on Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s aspiration to lead the World Trade Organisation’, and signed by its spokesperson, Ferdinand Nwonye, stated that Nigeria will continue to engage relevant stakeholders to ensure that the lofty aspiration of her candidate to lead the WTO is realised.

It stated that a meeting of the General Council of the WTO has been scheduled for November 9, 2020, for the final decision on the election process.

The statement reads: ”The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform that the third and final round of the selection process of the Director-General of the World Trade Organization was concluded on Tuesday, 27th October 2020, and the result was formally announced on Wednesday, 28th October 2020. The candidate from Nigeria, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has secured the support of the majority of the member countries but is yet to be declared and returned the winner.

” This is because apart from winning the election, all the 164 Member States of WTO were expected to adopt the winner by consensus, in accordance with the rule of procedure of the WTO. It is important to highlight that Dr Okonjo-Iweala has secured cross-regional backing with only the United States opposing the consensus.”