I was surprised Trump blocked my WTO job - Okonjo-Iweala

Following the official appointment of Nigeria's Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the new Director-General of the World Trade Organization, the Nigeria's former finance minister has said she was surprised that former US president, Donald Trump, could oppose her backing as the top candidate for the job.

Okonjo-Iweala who disclosed that she did not see it coming, said she thought and believed she had a good understanding with the US Government which had interviewed her twice.

According to her, she was quite surprised when the opposition from the US Government came as there was no indication of any problem with the US.

"I had two good interviews with the authorities and with the administration so it was a surprise. But that’s the way life works. When things happen, you take them in your stride and you move on.

“It was absolutely wonderful when the Biden/Harris administration broke that logjam. They joined the consensus and gave such a strong endorsement to my candidacy. They joined the other 163 members to endorse my candidacy," she said.