Nigeria Demands UN Security Council Permanent Seat After 41 Peacekeeping Missions

The Nigerian government says it has earned the right to become a permanent member of the United Nation Security Council after contributing to 41 peacekeeping missions, deploying over 200,000 troops.

Mohammed Badaru, Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, revealed this, in his address at the Summit of the Future interactive dialogue 2, titled: “Enhancing Multilateralism for International Peace and Security,” in New York, United States on Sunday.

The summit is part of the events at the 79th United Nations General Assembly.

According to reports, Badaru who said Nigeria had a longstanding commitment to international peace and security, called for reform of the UN Security Council to ensure Africa was represented with permanent seats, arguing that this would enhance global stability.

He said, “Since our first deployment in the Congo in 1960, Nigeria has contributed to 41 peacekeeping missions globally" while highlighting the deployment of over 200,000 Nigerian troops in UN operations.

“Nigeria has remained unequivocal in its commitment to international peace building 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 two hundred thousand Nigerian troops serving in UN peacekeeping missions,” he said.

The minister explained that under the regional and sub-regional cooperation, Nigeria has been involved in peacekeeping operations in field missions in several countries.

He listed the countries to include Cote dIvoire, Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia, Liberia, Mali, Sudan and Sierra Leone.

He said Nigeria had contributed a lot in terms of finance, logistics, troops and civilian experts, making it one of the most significant African troops and police contributors to the United Nations 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 said.

The defence minister also stressed the importance of building professional African armies to combat terrorism and called for operationalisation of the African Standby Force.

“We recognise the need for Africa to build strong and professional armies, in order to, among other things, defeat terrorism.

“Nigeria, calls for the operationalisation of the African Standby Force (ASF), and provision of requisite support and resources to ensure the upgrade, take off and effectiveness of a centre of excellence in Africa on issues of counter terrorism,” said Badaru.

He called for strengthening regional and sub-regional cooperation to build the capacities of Member States and promoting cooperation and understanding.

He urged the global body to take decisive steps to defuse tensions, and seek peaceful settlement of disputes to resolve conflicts, especially in the Middle-East and Ukraine.