Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, has emphasized the country’s right to a seat on the UN Security Council, citing its contributions to 41 peacekeeping missions and deployment of over 200,000 troops.
Speaking at the Summit of the Future interactive dialogue titled “Enhancing Multilateralism for International Peace and Security” during the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York, Badaru highlighted Nigeria’s longstanding role in global peacekeeping efforts.
“Since our first deployment in the Congo in 1960, Nigeria has contributed to 41 peacekeeping missions globally,” Badaru said, adding that over 200,000 Nigerian troops have been deployed in UN operations.
He called for reforms in the UN Security Council to include permanent seats for African nations, arguing that this move would strengthen global peace and stability.
“Nigeria has remained unequivocal in its commitment to international peacebuilding 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 200,000 Nigerian troops serving in UN peacekeeping missions,” he reiterated.
Badaru further detailed Nigeria’s involvement in peacekeeping across several African countries, including Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia, Liberia, Mali, Sudan, and Sierra Leone. He emphasized Nigeria’s contributions in terms of finances, logistics, troops, and civilian experts, positioning it as one of the leading African contributors to UN 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 stated.
The Defence Minister also underscored the importance of building strong professional African armies to combat terrorism and stressed the need to operationalize the African Standby Force (ASF).
“We recognise the need for Africa to build strong and professional armies, in order to, among other things, defeat terrorism,” Badaru said, urging support for the ASF and resources for a counter-terrorism center of excellence in Africa.
He also pointed to the growing threat of transnational crime and illegal arms trafficking, particularly in the Sahel region, and called for comprehensive strategies to address these challenges.
“We must scale up our efforts,” he said, noting the alarming rise in kidnappings for ransom and acts of piracy, and called for intensified efforts by the international community to control the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in conflict zones.
“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,” Badaru concluded.
The Minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to supporting UN initiatives aimed at combating terrorism and promoting global peace.
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