YouSaid · the spoken record

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

lines on the record: 80
first: 2010-09-24
most recent: 2014-09-24
sittings or episodes: 5
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“We have been and will remain a reliable and active partner, especially as we collectively work to resolve the new and emerging threats to global peace and security. The world must come together and win the war against terror. On 29 May 1999, Nigeria ended its military rule after the inauguration of a democratically elected President. Come February 2015, the country will conduct its fifth post-military-rule general election. In keeping with my election as President by the people of Nigeria, we shall conduct elections based on global best practices to further strengthen our democratic institutions.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“To prevent the disease from becoming a global catastrophe, the United Nations must accord it the maximum priority it deserves. Certainly, there has been much discussion on limiting ozone layer depletion since the commencement of negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1994. However, the extent of progress in key areas, particularly in limiting the contribution of man-made activities to greenhouse gas emission, has yet to be determined. Nigeria appreciates the indispensable role of the United Nations in its search for solutions to all those challenges: terrorism, global peace and security, the environment, and forging sustainable economic development.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“Through the concerted efforts of our health- care professionals, the World Health Organization and our international partners, we have been able to contain the virus, and we can confidently say that Nigeria today is Ebola-free. However, we have continued to support efforts to contain the spread of the disease in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. In addition to a direct donation totalling $3.5 million, we have provided training and capacity-building support to the three countries. It is pertinent to stress the need for the international community to properly appreciate the magnitude of the Ebola challenge. Indulging in isolationist and discriminatory tendencies, as some countries are doing, will only worsen an already critical situation.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“John Ashe, President of the General Assembly at its sixty-eighth session, for establishing a working group on reform. Indeed, the Security Council requires the collective resolve of all Member States to ensure that 2015 brings decisive progress. Even as Africa, and in particular West Africa, battles conflicts and terrorism, with progressive results, the region is being devastated by the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus. While Nigeria was able to respond effectively to control the spread of the disease, the situation in Liberia and Sierra Leone requires sustainable collective global action if it is to be contained.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“The failure of the Security Council to agree on unanimous action over pressing challenges to global peace and security in Syria and Iraq and the conflict in Ukraine, as well as with regard to the renewed aggression between Israel and Palestine, has strengthened the case for Security Council reform. Today’s challenges can be resolved only by a Security Council whose working methods engender transparency, inclusivity and common ownership through equitable representation of all regions in the decision-making process. It is imperative that we take advantage of 2015, which also marks the fiftieth anniversary of the 1965 reform, to make concrete progress on reforming the Security Council. We believe that there needs to be a fast-track process in line with the initiative of Mr.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“To that end, I wish to thank the Government of France for organizing and hosting the special summit on security in Nigeria that was held in Paris in May. I also wish to express my appreciation to the Governments of Cameroon, Chad, the Niger and Guinea for their committed efforts in support of the fight against Boko Haram. The outcome of the French process and the follow-up in London, Washington, D.C., and Abuja have helped to galvanize regional action and are already yielding positive results. Let me underline today that we shall not waver until we end this mindless war on the innocent and bring all the perpetrators to justice. We will triumph over terrorism.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“Through a wave of terror, assassinations, bombings and now abductions and kidnappings, predominantly in the north-east of the country, Boko Haram is attempting to truncate development in those areas through murder and mayhem. In April, our innocent daughters were abducted from a secondary school in Chibok, in the north-east. That callous and criminal act has attracted empathy for Nigeria across the globe. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the countries and organizations that have expressed solidarity with us and have continued to support our determined efforts to free our daughters. Although it has been over three months since they were abducted, we have never relented in our efforts to see them safely free. Together with our partners, we are working assiduously to free our daughters and reunite them with their families.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“The involvement of foreign fighters remains a common feature of terrorist groups, whether Al-Qaida in the Maghreb, Al-Shabaab in Somalia, Boko Haram in Nigeria or the newly emerging Islamic State (IS). The new dimension introduced by IS — namely, the goal of conquering territory and establishing its destructive ideology — is a major challenge that must be collectively halted before it becomes the norm. That challenge focuses renewed attention on the need to review the existing tools for United Nations peacekeeping operations. The violent and criminal activities of Boko Haram have continued to pose a potent challenge to the Government and people of Nigeria.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“Nigeria is aware of the need to create an enabling environment for rapid development. We are committed to strengthening institutions and improving governance systems, in order to ensure an efficient use of resources and the process itself. The year 2015 also marks the seventieth anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations. Even though the Charter of the United Nations underlines the imperative to spare succeeding generations from the scourge of war, the world continues to witness the ravages of war and human suffering. Today’s terrorism, manifested sometimes in insurgency, is vicious and aimless. Its consequences are agonizing, marked by a tendency to annihilate victims and completely destroy infrastructure and properties.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“Indeed, the gains of the MDGs must be incorporated into the emerging mechanism. We applaud the wide-ranging recommendations of the report of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Sustainable Development Financing on domestic resource mobilization, international development assistance, private sector finance and a supportive global enabling environment. My country is honoured to have been accorded the privilege, jointly with Finland, of leading that work as co-Chair of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts, as mandated by the Heads of State and Government at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio. Along with the work of the Open Working Group on sustainable development goals, the report provides a solid basis for intergovernmental negotiations on the post-2015 development agenda.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“We are meeting at a time when the world looks with expectation towards 2015, which marks the end of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the launch of their successors, the sustainable development goals (SDGs). We must ensure, at all levels, that the SDGs reflect the goals and aspirations of all the regions of the world. Indeed, if the SDGs are to drive development and also meet the aspirations of developing countries for poverty elimination and sustainable growth, collective ownership of the emerging process must be our priority. We in Africa expect that the new SDGs will be people-centred. They must promote peace and security, structural economic transformation, inclusive growth, food security for all, environmental sustainability and the shared benefits of science and technology.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“Let me begin, Sir, by expressing the best wishes of the Government and the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Mr. Kutesa’s assumption of the presidency of the General Assembly at its sixty-ninth session. His election is a fitting tribute to his invaluable and inspiring contribution to international diplomacy. I would also like to express my warm appreciation to his predecessor, Ambassador John Ashe, for the astute and steadfast manner in which he steered the affairs of the sixty-eighth session of the Assembly. I thank Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon not only for his relentless commitment to the work of the United Nations, but especially for his tireless efforts to address the challenges of world peace and security.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“We must dedicate ourselves to working together to address global, regional and national challenges and to deliver a more peaceful, equitable and prosperous world for all. It is our duty. We must not fail.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The world looks to us, as leaders, to provide hope in the midst of crisis, to offer guidance through difficult sociopolitical divisions and to ensure that we live in a better world. We have obligations to the current generation, but we have a greater obligation to those yet unborn, who should one day be able to inherit a world of sufficiency, irrespective of the circumstances of their birth or where they stand on the globe. We must work to make that world a reality in recognition of our common heritage. We must strive to eradicate poverty, hunger, disease and human misery; we must eliminate the scourge of nuclear, chemical and biological warfare, as well as that of small arms and light weapons.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Our support for the Security Council in its primary responsibility — the maintenance of international peace and security — has been total and unwavering. In our previous membership of the Council we demonstrated both the political will and the capacity to engage in key Council responsibilities. Nigeria has therefore decided to seek election to a non-permanent seat on the Security Council for the period 2014 to 2015, for which I am pleased to be able to say we have been endorsed by the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union. We urge the Assembly to endorse our candidature. Our world continues to be confronted by pressing problems and threats. No statement made during this session can encompass the extent of those problems.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“We can attain that objective if we adopt measures and policies that promote nuclear disarmament, protect and renew our environment and push towards an international system that is based on trust, mutual respect and shared goals. I believe that I express the concern of many when I bring up the slow pace of effort and apparent lack of progress in the reform of the United Nations, especially the Security Council. We believe strongly that the call for democratization worldwide should apply not only to States but also to international organizations such as the United Nations. That is why we call for the Council’s democratization. It is desirable in order to enshrine justice, equity and fairness and to promote a sense of inclusiveness and balance in our world.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Nigeria condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the use of chemical weapons prohibited by international conventions. We applaud the current diplomatic efforts to avert a further escalation of the crisis. We urge all parties involved to end the violence and seek a negotiated solution, including through the instruments of the United Nations. The threat that nuclear weapons pose to the survival of the human race is to be understood not just in the context of States that aspire to such weapons but also of the nations already in possession of them. It is our collective responsibility to urge the international community to respond to the clarion call for a peaceful universe in an age of uncertainty.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Piracy, like terrorism, is another menace that has attained worrying proportions, especially in Africa’s coastal waters. At the bilateral and multilateral levels, Nigeria has promoted cooperation to mitigate piracy’s impact on and consequences for the security and economies of affected coastal States. Indeed, in June, the leaders of the Economic Community of West African States, the Economic Community of Central African States and the Gulf of Guinea Commission met in Yaoundé and came up with practical steps to collectively confront the menace of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. That effort will no doubt require reinforcement and wider support and collaborative action on the part of our international partners. The situation in the Middle East remains volatile. The reported use of chemical weapons in the Syrian crisis is unacceptable.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Terrorism constitutes a major threat to global peace and security and undermines the capacity for sustained development. In Nigeria, the threat of terrorism in a few states in the north-eastern part of our country has proven to be a challenge to national stability. We will spare no effort in addressing this menace. We are therefore confronting it with every resource at our disposal, with due regard for fundamental human rights and the rule of law. Nigeria would like to place on record its appreciation to the international community for its support in that regard. The reign of terror anywhere in the world is an assault on our collective humanity. Three days ago, the stark reality of that menace was again brought to the fore by the dastardly terrorist attack in Nairobi. We must stand together to win this war together.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“It is regrettable that these scourges are sustained by unfettered access by non-State actors to illicit small arms and light weapons, with which they foster insecurity and instability across our continent. For us in Africa, these are the weapons of mass destruction. It is therefore in the light of our collective obligation and unceasing struggle to end this nightmare that I congratulate Member States on the adoption of the Arms Trade Treaty in April. Our hope is that, upon its entry into force, the Treaty will herald an era of accountable trade in conventional arms, which is critical to the security of nations. In line with our continued commitment to that project, Nigeria has signed and ratified the Treaty. We will continue to engage other Member States for its successful implementation.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“As global citizens, we have a sacred duty to free our world of wars, rivalries, ethnic conflicts and religious divisions. Our collective effort in our drive for a better world will continue to bind us together. Nigeria continues to support the efforts of the United Nations in addressing the global initiative to combat the menace of the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. We have redoubled efforts to address this onerous challenge within our borders and across the West African subregion. In doing so, we also recognize the need for a broad-based global partnership in the ongoing battle against transborder crimes, including terrorism and acts of piracy.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The recent presidential elections in Mali herald a new beginning that should translate into peace and prosperity for its people and provide a stronger basis for stability within the subregion. I congratulate President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who is here with us today. Similarly, the political transition process in Guinea-Bissau holds much promise. Among African leaders, there is a greater determination and focus on the transformation of the continent. That is the required impetus for the achievement of development objectives that will benefit the people, and rebrand the continent even more positively. Although our world has not witnessed a global war since the establishment of the United Nations, there have been several conflicts with devastating consequences and impact in virtually all regions of the world.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Nigeria’s commitment to sustainable peace and security propels the country to action along with member States of our subregional and continental organizations whenever stability is threatened in our continent. In recent years, Africa has had its share of conflicts, notably in Mali, Guinea-Bissau, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic and Somalia. It is noteworthy that African leaders, with the support of the international community, have demonstrated the capacity to work in concert and decisively in pursuit of long-term solutions in the affected States. While a lot more still needs to be done, we are convinced that progress is being made.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“This emergent Africa will require the continued support and partnership of the international community — an Africa that is no longer merely a destination for aid but one that is involved in constructive, multi-sectoral exchanges on the global stage. Our continent stands ready to continue to engage the rest of the world as a partner in formulating a global development agenda that will guarantee peace, security and stability. I wish to express my appreciation at Nigeria’s selection as co-Chair of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Sustainable Development Financing. The importance of the Committee’s assignment cannot be overstated. For the post-2015 development agenda to be realistic, it must be backed by a robust financing framework, which I hope will receive the strong backing of the Organization’s better- endowed Members.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The good news, however, is that in the past decade, a sustained democratization process across the continent has made significant difference in governance processes, institutions and structures. Today, we have a renascent Africa, which has moved away from the era of dictatorship to a new dawn, where the ideals of good governance and an emphasis on human rights and justice are beginning to drive State-society relations. This is the present reality of Africa that must replace the old prejudices and assumptions about the continent. We are firm in our conviction that democracy is fundamental to achieving the requisite stability that will enable the realization of a sustainable post-2015 development agenda in Africa.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Tomorrow, Nigeria will host a side event on the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), in collaboration with the United Nations, a number of African countries and our development partners. As I had cause to say before the Assembly at its previous session (see A/67/PV.8), the year 2015 is not a destination but only a milestone to a better, safer, healthier and more compassionate world. Let us therefore renew our commitment to the processes that will develop the post-MDG framework. That objective is of particular resonance to us in Africa, where the challenges of poverty, illiteracy, food insecurity and climate change continue to engage the attention of the political leadership.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“It is therefore apt that the theme for this session, “The post-2015 development agenda: setting the stage”, signposts our desire and determination to actively cooperate for the improvement of the overall welfare and well-being of the most vulnerable citizens of the States Members of the Organization. Nigeria appreciates the consultative nature of designing the post-2015 development agenda. Earlier in the year, we supported this global outreach through inclusive consultations and surveys of a number of Nigerians, who expressed their aspirations with respect to the world they expect beyond 2015. A major highlight of that process, which has increased national ownership of the agenda, is the emphasis on the eradication of poverty as the overarching principle in the formulation of the successor framework.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“On behalf of the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I salute the President as he presides over the General Assembly at its sixty-eighth session. I assure him of the full support and cooperation of the Nigerian delegation. I also wish to extend our commendation to Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon and to place on record Nigeria’s appreciation of his focused and committed leadership of the United Nations system. This session comes at a particularly trying period when our world faces a number of critical challenges, which make it imperative for us to work within the Charter of the United Nations to address them meaningfully.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The United Nations must lead that effort with renewed commitment.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“The freedom that we all hold dear and true should be exercised wisely and consciously. Freedom of expression and religious tolerance must not be mutually exclusive but should be complementary to each other. We eschew violence and deplore needless loss of lives and destruction of property. We condemn the deliberate denigration of religious and cultural beliefs and sensitivities, which in turn leads to counter-reactions. As the world grows in knowledge and prosperity, so must humankind grow in maturity and wisdom. Care and compassion for our fellow beings must inform all our actions. We must ensure that no nation and no part of the world is left behind in terms of human progress. Working together with commitment and common purpose, we can succeed in building an inclusive, safer and prosperous world for present and future generations.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“I cannot end my statement without alluding to the importance of the support that Nigerians are continuing to give to the United Nations in not only advancing but also upholding international peace and security. We shall strengthen and deepen our cooperation with the United Nations in peacekeeping operations around the world. We shall remain focused and committed to ensuring a meaningful and effective contribution to its presence and, if need be, to crucial peacekeeping operations, particularly in Africa. The events of recent weeks have demonstrated how increasingly interconnected our world has become and the extent to which an incident in one area can cause reverberations in others. The lesson is that freedom of expression should not be construed as a licence to incitement.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Nigeria has stood firm and played critical roles in all the recent developments in Africa, including the struggle for independence and self-determination and the fight against apartheid, colonialism and discrimination. Today, we are in the vanguard of the fight against extremism, terrorism and all forms of mindless violence. We shall remain undeterred and unf linching in our resolve to protect our citizens and other persons living within our borders and to extend such protection wherever we can to other countries in our region. We know that no country has unilaterally defeated the dark forces of violence and terrorism. They evidently represent an evil that requires international collaboration. We therefore call upon the international community and all like-minded stakeholders to address the matter with all the seriousness it deserves.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“In furtherance of that objective, Nigeria provided the sum of $10 million to the interim Government in Guinea- Bissau to assist in the stabilization of the country. The overall security situation in the West African subregion should continue to be a matter of interest and concern to the rest of the international community. I believe I speak for many in the Assembly when I state that West Africa can ill afford renewed insurgency. Although ECOWAS is taking measures to address the situation in Mali, particularly in the north, the urgent assistance of the United Nations and the support of other partners will be needed to build on recent gains to secure peace and stability in Mali and across the subregion. Nigeria’s long-standing commitment to the promotion of issues of particular concern to Africa is widely acknowledged.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“In Mali, the political crisis stemming from that reality has escalated to an insurgency that is threatening the unity of the country. Nigeria and ECOWAS are working in concert to address that threat, which has the potential to spill over into neighbouring countries and destabilize the entire region. Guinea-Bissau is another f lashpoint of instability in the subregion in which Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States are engaged. Indeed, the contact group, headed by Nigeria, was set up by the authority of the Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS to help establish a transitional Government with a view to returning that country to political and constitutional order.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“It is in that spirit that Nigeria will participate in the forthcoming intergovernmental process to consider the development of specific and action-oriented sustainable development goals beyond 2015. Sustainable development and progress are two ultimate aspirations of any nation, and they cannot be achieved without peace and security. Guided by that realization, Nigeria has committed and shall continue to commit itself to the attainment of regional and international peace and security, in close collaboration with the United Nations, the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Recently, however, our subregion has suffered some setbacks in terms of unconstitutional change of Governments and the emergence of insurgency, among others.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“The Commission’s overarching objective is to provide medical resources and other life-saving commodities in a more affordable, accessible and timely manner, thereby saving the lives of at least 4 million women and children worldwide by 2015 and helping to achieve the health-related targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Concerned with the unf lattering statistics on maternal and child mortality in Nigeria, my Government has adopted measures for reversing that unhappy trend, in close collaboration with the Commission and the related Every Woman Every Child movement. We believe, therefore, that it is time that the world looked beyond 2015 to the post-MDG era. The year 2015 is not a destination but only a milestone on the long journey to a better, safer, healthier and more caring world.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“We expect that those positive achievements will have an impact on the entire United Nations disarmament process, including the Conference on Disarmament, the Disarmament Commission and other disarmament mechanisms. The correlation between disarmament, peace and security, and development is axiomatic and self-evident. The work of the United Nations Commission on Life-saving Commodities for Women and Children — which I have the honour to co-chair with Mr. Jens Stoltenberg, Prime Minister of Norway — recognizes the need to serve and improve the health of women and children for the benefit of the future progress of the world. That is indeed a laudable achievement, for which we commend the vision of the Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“I believe that important instrument could galvanize the international community to regulate the transfer of conventional weapons and curb the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. There is no doubt that the absence of a global consensus on controlling the f low of such weapons, including small arms and light weapons, is fuelling conflicts, constraining growth and development and increasing human rights violations. A ray of hope was offered early this month with the successful conclusion of the second United Nations Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, including the unprecedented adoption of an outcome document under Nigeria’s presidency.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“We are confident that those measures will stem the f low of and access to small arms and light weapons, which have indeed become Africa’s weapons of mass destruction and the most potent source of instability. Indeed, the free f low of small arms and light weapons from the developed countries that manufacture them to Africa is one of the greater challenges the continent is facing in the contemporary world. Nigeria continues to regard the General Assembly as a veritable platform for collective action to address issues of common interest to all nations. One such issue deserving the serious attention of the United Nations is the adoption of a legally binding arms trade treaty.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“In some parts of my own country, for instance, we are experiencing threats from extremist and militant activities with quasi-terrorist tactics. Our response has been multifaceted, as we seek to address the root causes of those threats, exploring opportunities for dialogue and improving law enforcement to ensure public safety and security. International cooperation has also been a key factor in tackling our security challenges. We have signed bilateral agreements with our neighbours: Cameroon, the Republic of the Niger and Chad. On the multilateral front, the Lake Chad Basin Commission has been an excellent platform for cooperation. Those efforts are aimed at safeguarding the security of our individual countries and denying extremists the use of our region as sanctuary.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Nigeria and other emerging nations continue to demonstrate the capacity to add value to the work of all the organs of the United Nations, including the Security Council. For that reason, we must now commit ourselves to accelerating the long-overdue reforms of the Security Council. They will no doubt make the Council more equitable, more inclusive and more effective. Nigeria believes that a reformed Security Council with expanded permanent membership would benefit from the unique experiences and capacities that regional representatives could bring to bear on its work. It is a matter of great concern that many regions of the world, including the West African subregion, are plagued by political crises and insurgency.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“I see a consonance between the theme of the sixty- sixth session and that of sixty-seventh session — the adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations by peaceful means. Both are concerned with the peaceful settlement of disputes. This consonance, in my view, is evidence of the United Nations continuous and justifiable preoccupation with issues of peace and security. Membership in the Security Council in 2010 and 2011 afforded Nigeria an opportunity to work with others to promote the complex peace and security agenda of the United Nations. It was indeed a privilege for us to contribute to the United Nations and international efforts to make the world a safer and better place.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“I seize this opportunity to call on the Syrian people, in the face of a seeming lack of concerted positive international action, to pause and find a solution to the crisis in a way that will benefit the Syrian nation. Indeed, it was in the context of tackling the many crises that plagued our world that I proposed the establishment of a conflict mediation commission, under the Secretary-General’s Office, to further strengthen the early warning and peacebuilding initiatives of the United Nations. Experience elsewhere gives us reason to believe that there is value in the creation of such a mechanism. Nigeria stands ready to work with other countries to make the protection of innocent civilians caught in conflict situations a priority of the United Nations.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“The Arab Spring had broken out, setting new political standards for social contracts between Governments and the governed. Also, South Sudan, today sitting at the family table of the United Nations, had just gained independence. Since then, we have witnessed considerable progress and also some setbacks. Knowing that the future remains uncertain and perilous, we have always believed that much more needs to be done to protect our gains, including developing new strategies for preventing and resolving conflicts. The situation in Syria, which continues to weigh on the collective conscience of the world, is a case in point. Every day since the conflict began, innocent people continue to lose their lives and livelihoods, while tens of thousands of others f lee into neighbouring countries seeking refuge.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Let me start by congratulating Mr. Jeremić on his election as President of the General Assembly at its sixty-seventh session. I have no doubt that under his able leadership the work at this session will progress to a successful conclusion. I also wish to acknowledge the excellent work of his predecessor, Ambassador Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, who guided the affairs of the sixty-sixth session with diligence and consummate skill. I must seize this opportunity to applaud Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for the able manner in which he has continued to guide and lead the Secretariat of our Organization. When I addressed the Assembly last year on the theme of the role of mediation in the settlement of disputes by peaceful means (see A/66/PV.11), the world was witnessing important and dramatic changes.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“In spite of the Council’s many successes, it is our belief that that important organ would benefit from the vigour and fresh perspectives that only a revamped Council accommodating changing global political realities can provide. I urge the President of the General Assembly to set up clear criteria for the reform of the Security Council in line with the demand of the majority of the world. A reformed Security Council is the only way to demonstrate that all nations have an equal stake in the United Nations. Nigeria looks forward to the prospect of membership in a reformed Security Council.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Nigeria believes that those values must remain at the core of governance in Africa if we are ever to achieve the goals of stability, security and development. As Nigeria is approaching the end of its tenure on the Security Council, I would like to express my country’s deep appreciation for the opportunity to serve in that important organ. In the course of our stewardship, the Council had the courage to reach many difficult decisions that resulted in positive developments around the world. We are proud to be associated with those decisions. I would like to urge the Council to continue its important work in the maintenance of international peace and security.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Having put that crisis behind us, the international community must now provide robust assistance to the country as it embarks on the tasks of post-conflict reconstruction and national reconciliation. The struggle for self-governance and majority rule in Africa started in the 1940s; and by 1957 Ghana had gained independence. Today, all African States have achieved self-determination and majority rule. Those are no small achievements. But we still have much work to do. A great deal of the work that remains is to build viable and capable States in Africa on the principles of popular participation, the rule of law and respect for human rights, as we pledged to do in the Constitutive Act of the African Union.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Those elections will set the respective countries along the path of political stability, progress, good governance and sustainable development — some of the benefits of which we have begun to experience. The progress we have made would not have been possible without the support of the United Nations. The resolution of the conflict in Côte d’Ivoire is a case in point. I consider the inauguration of President Ouattara a success not just for Côte d’Ivoire but also for the international community, which spoke with one voice and acted in concert in support of the Ivorian people. The end of that crisis must be seen by all as the beginning of our journey towards the consolidation of democratic culture and good governance in Africa.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“In order to demonstrate our commitment to human rights, Nigeria recently ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and acceded to four other international human rights instruments, including the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. In addition, this year, my Government passed into law the National Human Rights Commission Amendment Act, the Legal Aid Council Amendment Act and the Freedom of Information Act. Nigeria will continue to accord the highest priority to human rights issues, as they speak directly to the dignity and inalienable rights of humankind. 11-50692 46 We in West Africa are passing through an exciting season of democratic rebirth. Before the end of 2011, elections will have been held in six countries in West Africa.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)