The federal government has demanded a permanent United Nations Security Council seat after contributing to 41 peacekeeping missions and deploying over 200,000 troops.
Addressing the 79th United Nations General Assembly, Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar Badaru, called for reform of the UN Security Council to ensure Africa is represented with permanent seats to enhance global stability.
The minister emphasised Nigeria’s longstanding commitment to international peace and security.
“Nigeria has remained unequivocal in its commitment to international peace building and security, since the first engagement of its troops in the 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.
“Under the regional and sub-regional cooperation, Nigeria has been involved in peacekeeping operations in field missions in Cote dIvoire, Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia, Liberia, Mali, Sudan and Sierra Leone, among others, and has contributed a lot in terms of finance, logistics, troops and civilian experts, making her one of the most significant African troops and police contributors to the United Nations missions.
“It is on this basis that Nigeria continues to call for the reform of the United Nations Security Council to give just representation to Africa on a permanent basis for inclusivity and deepening of global peace and security,” he said.
The minister stressed the importance of building professional African armies to combat terrorism, and called for operationalising the African Standby Force.
He also stressed the need for comprehensive strategies to tackle transnational crime and illegal arms trafficking, particularly in the Sahel region.
“We recognize the need for Africa to build strong and professional armies, in order to, among other things, defeat terrorism.
“Nigeria, calls for the operationalization of the African Standby Force (ASF), and provision of requisite support and resources to ensure the upgrade, take off and effectiveness of a centre of excellence in Africa on issues of counter terrorism.
“We reiterate the call to strengthen regional and sub-regional cooperation, build capacities of Member States, promote cooperation and understanding, as well as defuse tensions, and seek peaceful settlement of disputes to resolve conflicts especially in the Middle-East and Ukraine,” he said.
The minister reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to combating transnational organised crime, and called for comprehensive strategies that include prevention, early detection, protection and law enforcement to address the rising alliances between bandits and terrorists.
The minister also called on the international community to intensify efforts to control the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in conflict zones, particularly in the Sahel region.
He said unrestricted access to illicit arms by non-state actors exacerbates insecurity and instability.
“We must scale up efforts in addressing transnational organized crime and related illegal financial flows through comprehensive strategies, including prevention, early detection, protection and law enforcement, especially in the wake of emerging alliance between bandits and terrorists, including kidnapping for ransom and acts of piracy.
“We seize this opportunity to urge the international community to renew efforts to stem the tide of small arms and light weapons in conflict, especially within the Sahel region where unfettered access by non-state actors to illicit arms and light weapons continues to foster insecurity and instability,” he said.
