Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, spoke at the 79th United Nations General Assembly, emphasizing Nigeria’s long-standing dedication to international peace and security.
“Since our initial deployment in the Congo in 1960, Nigeria has participated in 41 peacekeeping missions worldwide,” Badaru stated during the Summit of the Future’s interactive dialogue on enhancing multilateralism for peace and security, noting the deployment of over 200,000 troops in UN operations.
He urged for reforms to the UN Security Council to ensure Africa’s representation through permanent seats, arguing that this would promote global stability.
Through regional cooperation, Nigeria has taken part in peacekeeping missions in countries like Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia, Liberia, Mali, Sudan, and Sierra Leone, contributing significantly in terms of finances, logistics, troops, and civilian expertise, making it one of the top African contributors to UN missions.
Badaru also stressed the importance of comprehensive strategies to combat transnational crime and illegal arms trafficking, especially in the Sahel region.
He pointed out the necessity for Africa to build strong, professional armies to effectively combat terrorism.
The Minister called on the international community to enhance efforts to control the spread of small arms and light weapons in conflict zones, warning that easy access to illicit arms by non-state actors worsens insecurity. “The time for action is now,” he said, as Nigeria faces the challenges of organized crime that threaten regional stability.
He added, “We must intensify our efforts to address transnational organized crime and illegal financial flows through comprehensive strategies, including prevention, early detection, protection, and law enforcement, particularly given the emerging alliances between bandits and terrorists involved in kidnapping and piracy.”
He concluded by reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to supporting UN efforts in fighting terrorism and promoting global peace.
