The recent trend of unconstitutional takeover of power, sometimes in reaction to unilateral changes of constitutions by some leaders, must not be tolerated by the international community, President Muhammadu Buhari told world leaders Friday in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n
In his speech at the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly, the President warned that democratic gains of the past decades in West Africa \u2018\u2018are now being eroded\u2019\u2019 due to these negative trends.<\/p>\n\n\n
He affirmed Nigeria\u2019s support to efforts by ECOWAS, AU and the UN to address this growing challenge, saying:<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018As leaders of our individual Member-States we need to adhere to the constitutional provisions of our countries, particularly on term limits. This is one area that generates crisis and political tension in our sub-region.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n
The President urged the international community not only to deal with the symptoms of conflict but also the immediate causes that fuel conflicts in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018These include poor and undemocratic governance, human rights abuses, poverty, ignorance, injustice and inequalities.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018There are no easy solutions to these conditions. They require long term investments and more effective international cooperation. In this connection, my delegation underscores the importance of promoting peaceful, unfettered, and inclusive participation of states in global actions towards conflict prevention.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018This will facilitate the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union Agenda 2063.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n
The President\u2019s speech, delivered from the podium of the General Assembly hall, addressed other matters on the international agenda of interest to Nigeria, including the COVID-19 pandemic, Arms Trade Treaty, climate change, terrorism, anti-corruption, debt suspension, international trade, UN Security Council Reform, Palestinian Question, racial discrimination, among others.<\/p>\n\n\n
On the issue of debt in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Nigerian leader urged G20 countries to extend its debt suspension initiatives to all developing countries, Least Developed Countries, Small Island Developing States facing fiscal and liquidity challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n
The President also called for outright debt cancellation for countries facing the most severe challenges:<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018Developing countries have been faced with unsustainable debt burdens even before the pandemic<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the risk of new wave of deepening debt, where vital public financial resources are allocated to external debt servicing and repayments at the expense of domestic health and financing for critical developmental needs.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018I must commend the current initiatives by the international financial institutions and the G20 aimed at significantly mitigating the economic situation of the indebted countries and urge for more efforts in this regard.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018Therefore, there is an urgent need to consider expansion and extension of the Debt Service Suspension Initiative to include all Developing, Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States facing fiscal and liquidity challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018In addition, a review of the eligibility criteria for debt suspension, including outright cancellation, is needed for countries facing the most severe challenges.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n
The President also used the occasion of the speech to renew his advocacy for equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, outlining steps Nigeria has taken to achieve \u2018\u2018moderate success\u2019\u2019 in containing the virus and halt its deadly onslaught in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018Nigeria remains grateful for the assistance received from our partners and friends all over the world.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018Vaccination is the key to our safe emergence from the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018We fully support the COVAX initiative from which we have benefitted. We also thank the United States of America, Turkey, India, China, European Union, and others for the vaccines provided.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018Despite the acknowledgement however, I would like to reiterate my call for a fairer and more equitable distribution of vaccines to all countries so that, together, we can fight and contain the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018The rising wave of newer and more contagious strains, makes this even more urgent. No country can afford the socio-economic implications of prolonged shutdown. It is imperative to underscore that no one is safe until everyone is safe,\u2019\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n\n\n
On Nigeria\u2019s intervention to halt the pandemic, the President said:<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018At the outset, we recognised detection and contact tracing to be important tools in combating the virus.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018In this connection, from a mere four laboratories with testing and detection capacities, we ramped up the facilities to over 140 centres today.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018Similarly, we built isolation centres and emergency hospital wards in record time all over the country. We carry out genomic sequencing in designated laboratories across the country with a view to detecting variants in circulation.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018In addition, over 40,000 health care workers have recently been trained on Infection, Prevention and Control measures with the support of various partners.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018Through the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, we have established 16 infectious disease treatment centres located within our Teaching Hospitals and Federal Medical Centres,\u2019\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n\n\n
On the fight against terrorism, the President told the UN General Assembly that the Nigerian Security Forces have recorded considerable success.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018As a result of the renewed vigour of Nigeria\u2019s military, many terrorist fighters are voluntarily surrendering to our security forces,\u2019\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n\n\n
The President noted that while terrorism continues to dominate security discourse worldwide, in Nigeria, Boko Haram terrorists group, though fragmented by internal strife and weakened by our defence forces, is still active and preying on soft targets.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018Nigeria will continue to work closely with UN Counter-Terrorism bodies and entities with a view to bringing this scourge to an end, \u2019\u2019 he said, adding that the country would spare no effort in addressing the challenges of terrorism posed by the activities of Boko Haram in North-East Nigeria and the Lake Chad region, as well as banditry in the North-West and North-Central Nigeria.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018I and three other Nigerian Heads of State served actively as peace keepers and Nigeria continues to support peacekeeping efforts. We know the sacrifice involved; we also know how important peacekeeping is for those in vulnerable situations.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018Nigeria will continue to play its part fully in supporting United Nations peacekeeping operations within Africa and beyond,\u2019\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n\n\n
On international trade, President Buhari called for reforms that will engender recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, build resilience to future shocks and pursue transformative development strategies that can deliver the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals .<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018Nigeria reaffirms that international trade is an engine for development and sustained economic growth, as well as the global eradication of poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018My delegation would like to reaffirm the critical role that a universal, rules-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system can play in stimulating economic growth and development.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018Fair and equitable trade would eventually eliminate the need for aid.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018My country and indeed all African countries do not intend to stay indefinitely looking for aid. All we need is a fair and equitable system of international trade,\u2019\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n\n\n
The Nigerian leader also renewed the call for the reforms of the UN Security Council, stressing that intergovernmental negotiations on the issue was taking too long.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018No reform of the United Nations system is more urgent than that of the Security Council. Stakeholders around the world are asking how such power could be concentrated, with scant representation.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018The intergovernmental negotiations have taken too long, some 15 years.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018We must avoid going in circles. Consensus has been achieved in some of the elements of this reform, especially that of the representation of Africa on the basis of the Elzuwini consensus and the Sirte Declaration.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018It is unreasonable to expect unanimity in this matter. The issue, indeed, is about justice, not unanimity. Without justice, the legitimacy (even efficacy) of our Organization is called to question.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018We can and must make substantial, irreversible progress on Security Council reform in the current session,\u2019\u2019 he said. <\/p>\n\n\n
On the Palestinian question, the President encouraged Israel and Palestine to re-engage in dialogue based on relevant UN resolutions and Initiatives.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018The two-state solution has the support of the international community and is widely acknowledged as the path to lasting peace,\u2019\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n\n\n
President Buhari expressed deep concerns at the devastating effects of small arms and weapons, calling for accountability in conventional arms trade.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u201cNigeria remains deeply concerned over the illicit trade, transfer, and circulation of small arms and light weapons. Their excessive accumulation and uncontrolled spread in many regions of the world are having devastating humanitarian and socio-economic consequences, especially on the continent of Africa. <\/p>\n\n\n
\u201cIt is on this note that my delegation calls for the world wide application of the Arms Trade Treaty to codify accountability in conventional arms trade, which is critical to the security of nations. This is in recognition of the need for a broad-based global partnership in the on-going battle against trans-border crimes, including terrorism and piracy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n
President Buhari concluded his UN speech at the 76th annual general debate with praise for the outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel.<\/p>\n\n\n
He also pledged Nigeria\u2019s unalloyed support for multilateralism and faith in the UN as the pre-eminent body for solving current and emerging global challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018Our organization is at the peak of the multilateral system.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018It is also the pre-eminent body for solving our current and emerging challenges, and for developing norms that are protective of us all. We need to re-commit to it, rejuvenate it to better serve us.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018Nigeria re-affirms its faith in the United Nations and is further resolved to continue to work with all Member-States for peace and security, development and the protection of human rights.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018In the current moment, hope for these, is dependent on how we assist each other to get Covid-19 out of all countries, regardless of their classification. We can and must do so.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018In this regard, let me close my statement by paying special tribute to a great and humane internationalist, and an exemplary practitioner of multilateral cooperation. I am speaking of Chancellor Angela Merkel of the Federal Republic of Germany. As she exits the stage, we wish her well,\u2019\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u25aa\ufe0eBy Femi Adesina<\/strong>, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity)<\/p>\n\n\n \u25aa\ufe0e Below is the link to President Buhari’s full speech:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n