Nigeria Pushes For Global Reforms, Security Council Seat at 81st UNGA

Vice President Kashim Shettima has received a briefing from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Jimoh Ibrahim, on the country’s priorities for the 81st United Nations General Assembly, UNGA, in New York.

The briefing was held on Monday ahead of the formal opening of the high-level session, with discussions focusing on Nigeria’s diplomatic priorities and expectations from the global gathering.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, September 21.

Nkwocha said Nigeria would build on its position at the previous UNGA, particularly its call for reforms that would strengthen the contribution of the global body to the development of developing countries.

He said Shettima would present President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s message across different sectors during engagements at the 81st session, including Nigeria’s campaign for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

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“Nigeria will build on its position at the last meeting of global leaders, where it strongly canvassed for a holistic reform of the global body’s contributions to the development of third world countries,” Nkwocha said.

He added that when the 81st session formally opens, “the VP will, at all the forums, present President Tinubu’s message across different sectors, including Nigeria’s push for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.”

Nkwocha stressed that Nigeria remained committed to engaging strategically with key stakeholders throughout the high-level meeting.

Also speaking after the briefing, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Jimoh Ibrahim, said the country’s participation would focus on reforms aimed at improving the impact of the international organisation on member states.

He said Nigeria’s participation would be “anchored on deepening reforms at the global body to ensure significant impact on UN member states, among other objectives.”

Meanwhile, some state governors attending the UNGA said they would use the international platform to seek investment opportunities for their respective states.

Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule and his Kebbi counterpart, Nasir Idris, said they would seek opportunities to attract international investment into their states, particularly in the solid minerals sector and other areas of mutual economic interest.

The governors said the abundant mineral resources in Nasarawa and Kebbi positioned both states to engage potential investors and promote economic development.

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara also said he would explore global partnerships capable of attracting additional investments to the state.

Fubara said Rivers’ oil and gas resources would provide opportunities for engagements with potential investors during the summit.

According to the statement, the governors said their participation was aimed at leveraging the global platform to promote their states, attract investments and create new economic opportunities for their people.

Also present at the briefing were Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris, Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake, Minister of Women Affairs Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim and Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning Doris Uzoka-Anite, among other officials.