Nigeria demands seat on UN Security Council – Voice of Nigeria

By Temitope Mustapha, Abuja

Nigerian Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru delivered a speech at the 79th United Nations General Assembly, calling for reforms to the UN Security Council to ensure that Africa is properly represented with permanent seats.

The minister said this would increase global stability.

Speaking at the Summit of the Future interactive dialogue 2, themed “Strengthening multilateralism for international peace and security” “Since our first deployment in Congo in 1960, Nigeria has contributed to 41 peacekeeping missions worldwide,” The minister highlighted the deployment of over 200,000 Nigerian troops in UN operations.

Badaru stressed Nigeria’s longstanding commitment to international peace and security and called for reform of the UN Security Council to ensure that Africa is represented with permanent seats, which he said would enhance global stability.

He said: “Nigeria has remained unequivocal in its commitment to international peacebuilding and security since first deploying its troops to Congo in 1960. To date, Nigeria has contributed to 41 peacekeeping operations worldwide, with over two hundred thousand Nigerian troops serving in UN peacekeeping missions.

“In the context of regional and sub-regional cooperation, Nigeria has been involved in peacekeeping operations in field missions in countries including Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Liberia, Mali, Sudan and Sierra Leone, and has contributed significantly in terms of finance, logistics, troops and civilian experts, making it one of the largest African troop and police contributors to United Nations missions.”

“It is on this basis that Nigeria continues to push for reform of the United Nations Security Council to give Africa equitable representation on a permanent basis for inclusiveness and deepening of global peace and security.“said the minister.

The Defence Minister stressed the importance of building professional African armies to combat terrorism and urged the operationalisation of the African Standby Force.

Badaru also stressed the need for comprehensive strategies to tackle transnational crime and illicit arms trafficking, particularly in the Sahel region. “We recognize the need for Africa to build strong and professional armies, including to defeat terrorism.

He said: “Nigeria calls for the operationalization of the African Standby Force (ASF) and provision of the necessary support and resources to ensure the modernization, take-off and effectiveness of a centre of excellence in Africa in the field of counter-terrorism.

“We reiterate the call to strengthen regional and subregional cooperation, build the capacities of Member States, promote cooperation and understanding, as well as reduce tensions and strive for peaceful resolution of disputes to resolve conflicts, particularly in the Middle East and Ukraine.”

Badaru reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to combating transnational organized crime. He stressed the urgent need for comprehensive strategies that include prevention, early detection, protection and law enforcement to address the growing alliances between bandits and terrorists.

He said: “We need to scale up our efforts, highlighting the alarming trend of kidnapping for ransom and piracy.

Badaru called on the international community to intensify efforts to control the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in conflict areas, particularly in the Sahel region.

He warned that unrestricted access to illicit weapons by non-state actors is exacerbating insecurity and instability. “The time for action is now,” he urged, as Nigeria grapples with the complexities of organized crime that threaten regional stability and security.

“We must step up efforts to tackle transnational organised crime and related illicit financial flows through comprehensive strategies including prevention, early detection, protection and law enforcement. This is particularly true in light of emerging alliances between bandits and terrorists, including kidnapping for ransom and piracy.

“We seize this opportunity to urge the international community to renew its efforts to stem the tide of small arms and light weapons in conflict, particularly in the Sahel region, where unhindered access by non-state actors to illicit arms and light weapons continues to fuel insecurity and instability.” he said.

Badaru reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to UN efforts to combat terrorism and promote world peace.

Grace Chukwudiebere