The Nigerian government has once again called for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, emphasizing its long-standing contributions to global peacekeeping efforts. During an address at the 79th United Nations General Assembly, Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, highlighted the country’s involvement in 41 peacekeeping missions and the deployment of over 200,000 troops since 1960.
Speaking at the Summit of the Future’s interactive dialogue on “Enhancing Multilateralism for International Peace and Security,” Badaru underscored Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to global peace. “Since our first deployment in the Congo in 1960, Nigeria has contributed to 41 peacekeeping missions globally,” Badaru said, emphasizing the deployment of Nigerian troops to various UN operations around the world.
He argued that Nigeria’s contributions, both in terms of personnel and resources, merit recognition with a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. “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 permanently for inclusivity and the deepening of global peace and security,” Badaru stated.
The minister also highlighted Nigeria’s role in peacekeeping operations across Africa, including missions in Cote D’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia, Liberia, Mali, Sudan, and Sierra Leone. These efforts, according to Badaru, make Nigeria one of the largest contributors of troops and police to UN missions from the African continent.
Badaru stressed the importance of building strong, professional African armies to combat the rise of terrorism across the continent. He called for the operationalization of the African Standby Force (ASF) and urged the international community to provide the necessary support for counter-terrorism efforts in Africa.
“Nigeria calls for the operationalization of the African Standby Force and the provision of requisite support and resources to ensure its effectiveness in counter-terrorism efforts,” Badaru said. He also stressed the importance of tackling transnational crime and illegal arms trafficking, particularly in the volatile Sahel region.
The Defence Minister raised concerns over the increasing alliances between bandits and terrorists, including kidnappings for ransom and acts of piracy. He called for renewed global efforts to stem the flow of small arms and light weapons in conflict zones, warning that unrestricted access to illicit arms by non-state actors is a growing threat to regional stability.
“The time for action is now,” Badaru urged, as he reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to supporting UN initiatives aimed at combating terrorism and promoting global peace.
With this strong call for reform and action, Nigeria’s push for a permanent Security Council seat is gaining momentum as the country seeks greater representation for Africa on the global stage.
