Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to the United Nations and the principles of the UN Charter, while calling for innovative approaches to address declining resources for development and humanitarian interventions.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, gave the assurance on Tuesday during a courtesy visit by the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Mohamed Malick Fall, in Abuja.
According to a statement by Richard Elesho, Special Assistant on Media and Strategic Communication to the Minister, Enikanolaiye welcomed what he described as a shift in strategic thinking within the UN system and praised the organisation’s continued support to Nigeria through its agencies, funds and programmes.
The minister described the UN as a strategic partner in humanitarian action, development cooperation and peacebuilding, noting its interventions in vulnerable communities across Nigeria and other parts of the world.
“For us as a country, we value our relationship with the United Nations. We participate actively in the maintenance of international peace and security and in advancing the other purposes for which the UN was established,” Enikanolaiye said.
He added that Nigeria remained committed to supporting the organisation, noting that its work contributes significantly to the country’s development and the wellbeing of its people.
Addressing concerns over shrinking funding for development and humanitarian programmes, the minister advocated stronger collaboration with the private sector and other innovative funding mechanisms to ensure sustainable support for vulnerable populations.
In his remarks, Fall, who is expected to conclude his assignment in Nigeria later this year, described the country as his second home, having served for nearly a decade, first with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and later as Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator.
He commended Nigeria’s contributions to the United Nations and its role in promoting the organisation’s ideals, recalling the country’s leadership in regional peacekeeping efforts through the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG).
Fall said Nigeria’s peacekeeping record demonstrated its commitment to advancing peace and security in West Africa and beyond.
