Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, spoke at the 79th United Nations General Assembly, reiterating Nigeria’s call for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. He highlighted Nigeria’s substantial contributions to global peacekeeping since its first deployment in the Congo in 1960, noting participation in 41 missions and the deployment of over 200,000 troops.
Badaru emphasized the need for UN Security Council reform to ensure Africa’s representation, arguing that it would enhance global stability. He advocated for building professional African militaries to combat terrorism and called for the operationalization of the African Standby Force.
He also stressed the necessity of comprehensive strategies to address transnational crime and illegal arms trafficking, particularly in the Sahel region, and urged international cooperation to control the proliferation of small arms. Badaru concluded by reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to supporting UN initiatives aimed at combating terrorism and fostering global peace.