The Nation Newspaper

Tag: UN General Assembly

  • Buhari leads delegation to UN General Assembly

    Buhari leads delegation to UN General Assembly

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari will be leading the country’s delegation to the 72nd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama said yesterday.

    Briefing reporters on the conference scheduled from September 12 to 25, Onyeama said Nigeria will use the opportunity to garner international support for the release of remaining Chibok girls and also in the effort towards eradicating the residual traces of terrorism from the Northeast.

    He said: “Government’s efforts have resulted in the release of over 89 schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram in Chibok in 2014.

    “We will call for continued international support to ensure the safe release and return of the remaining Chibok girls.”

    He said Nigeria would also reiterate call for the repatriation of the proceeds of illicit financial assets to countries of origin.

    The minister explained that next week’s meeting provides a high level window of opportunity to advance Nigeria’s actions towards the promotion of peace and implementation of  Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    He said Nigeria would pursue its agenda in line with the theme for the session, which is: “Focusing on people: Striving for peace and a decent life for all on a sustainable planet”.

    “We are absolutely delighted that as he did last year, Mr. President will be leading the Nigerian delegation to the UNGA in New York.

    “And, that should be an excellent message to the world that Nigeria is engaged at the very highest level with the international community and it’s present in the big and global issues of the day.”

  • Buhari to attend UN General Assembly summit

    Buhari to attend UN General Assembly summit

    President Muhammadu Buhari will participate in the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly from September 19-23 in New York, United States.

    The President, according to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, will deliver Nigeria’s statement at the opening of the General Debate of the Assembly, on the theme: The Sustainable Development Goals: A Universal Push to Transform our World.”

    Buhari will also attend a high-level summit, hosted by the UN, on “Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants.”

    The summit, which is the first of its kind organised by the General Assembly at the Heads of State and Government level, is expected to come up with a blueprint for a better international response to enhance protection of migrants and refugees.

    While in New York for the annual gathering of world leaders, President Buhari will attend series of meetings as well as side events, which are of significant interest to Nigeria.

    He will deliver a keynote address on “Taking Climate Action Towards Sustainable Development in Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin.”

    Leaders of member countries of the Lake Chad Basin will attend the important side event organized by the Nigerian government to highlight the urgent need to mobilize international response to the distressing situation in the Lake Chad Basin, where over nine million people need humanitarian assistance.

     

  • Buhari leads Nigeria’s delegation to UN summit

    Buhari leads Nigeria’s delegation to UN summit

    President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to lead the Federal Government’s delegation to the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

    Buhari will join other world leaders to address issues of global importance as well as those peculiar to their different countries and regions.

    The UN General Assembly summit begins on Tuesday.

    The President, according to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, will use the opportunity to put in proper perspective some issues about his administration which had been largely misconstrued, particularly on human rights.

    Onyeama, who briefed journalists in Abuja on the UN summit, said, “there is need to tell our own story and tell it persuasively too to get support from the world. We are not a sick patient looking for help. Nigeria is a power house seeking opportunity to play a greater role in global affairs.”

    Reacting to the alleged human right abuse by the administration, Onyeama said, “It would be an opportunity to put the record straight. Government does not interfere with the judiciary; neither does it interfere with the activities of the EFCC and other investigative bodies.”

    Onyeama also stressed that the Buhari administration has from onset defined the rule of engagement in the battle against terrorism.

     

  • UN Assembly elects Fiji representative as president

    The United Nations General Assembly on Monday in New York elected Amb. Peter Thomson of Fiji as its 71st President.

    Thomson, who contested alongside Cyprus Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Ioannis Kasoulides, garnered 94 votes to emerge winner, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    Kasoulides polled 90 out of a total of 192 votes collated, with seven votes invalid.

    Born in Suva, Fiji, in 1948, Thomson was educated at Suva Grammar School and Natabua High School respectively.

    In 1966-67, he attended the International Centre at Sevenoaks School, United Kingdom.

    He graduated from Auckland University, New Zealand, with B.A. Political Studies and Cambridge University, UK  (Post-Graduate Diploma in Development Studies).

    Addressing delegates immediately after his election, Thomson said he would be vocal on climate change during his presidency.

    He assured that his presidency is “presidency for all.

  • Who should lead the United Nations?

    This year, the United Nations will choose its next Secretary-General. We need the best possible candidate for the job.

    It is often spoken of as the most impossible job in the world.

    And given the files that the next United Nations Secretary-General will take over on 1 January 2017, it is easy to see why: appalling conflicts and human suffering in parts of the Middle East, Africa and Europe; violent extremism that is threatening us all; continued discrimination against women and girls; a worrying rise in xenophobia; over 800 million people struggling to escape extreme poverty; close to 60 million displaced around the world; a unique window-of-opportunity to address Climate Change and the Sustainable Development Goals before it is too late; and an Organization that needs to adapt to the challenges and new Goals the world is facing.

    In its 70 year history, the UN, for all its flaws, has demonstrated that it can rise to such challenges. But to do so today, it must secure the best possible candidate through this year’s process of selection and appointment of the next Secretary-General.

    The role of the UN Secretary-General

    Many have suggested that the UN’s most senior official should either be a Secretary or a General. This is too simplistic, for the Secretary-General must be both and more.

    A person with strong moral courage and integrity; he or she – and I do not see why the best candidate should not be a woman – must be a voice for the world’s most vulnerable people and embody the very ideals and purposes of the United Nations.

    The world’s top diplomat; the Secretary-General must use her independence, impartiality and good offices to prevent conflict, broker peace and stand-up for human rights.

    A person with political stature and strong leadership skills – with the authority to bring to the attention of the UN Security Council any matter which in her opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security.
    As the chief administrative officer of the UN, the Secretary-General must create a culture of integrity, fairness, competence and efficiency right across the UN family and oversee a huge Organization with a budget of approximately $10 billion, a staff of over 40,000 and 41 peace operations worldwide.

    The Secretary-General must be a person with strong inter-personal and communication skills – able to navigate smoothly in our increasingly multi-polar world and drive a global transition to sustainable development.

    An archaic selection process

    One might think, therefore, that the process for choosing the Secretary-General would be as vigorous, inclusive and transparent as possible.

    But to date this has not been the case.

    Previously, there has been no clarity on when the selection process actually started or, somewhat unbelievably, who was actually running for the job. Also, there has been no formal job description and no real opportunity for substantive and open engagement with the candidates – neither for the full UN membership nor the public.

    The result: Recommendations negotiated behind closed doors – primarily by the five permanent members of the Security Council; eight Secretaries-General, not one of whom has been female; and a mostly symbolic appointment by the UN General Assembly. Therefore, Secretaries-General have, not always rightfully, been perceived to be beholden to the very powers that they must be most independent of.

    A better way to choose the next SG

    The UN Charter is clear on the respective roles of the Security Council and the General Assembly in the selection and appointment process and it must be adhered to.

    But recent changes to the process itself, agreed to by all 193 members of the General Assembly, provide us with a genuine opportunity to make it more transparent, more robust, more inclusive and ultimately, more effective.

    As President of that Assembly, it is my job to ensure that those changes are implemented.

    So here’s what’s happening.

    Last December, the President of the Security Council and I set the selection process in motion by issuing a call for candidates to be presented as early as possible.

    We outlined the central features of the process. We pointed out some of the key criteria for the position and, in light of seven decades of male dominance, we encouraged member states to present both female and male candidates.

    To date, seven candidates have been presented and their biographies and related information are now publicly available on my website.

    But perhaps the greatest opportunity to truly break from the past comes in the form of open dialogues that I will hold with the candidates. These dialogues – referred to by some as the ‘SG hearings’ – will begin on April 12.

    Each candidate is expected to prepare a vision statement on the challenges and opportunities facing the UN and the next Secretary-General. They will present themselves for two-hours of questions from the full UN membership as well as from civil society and each dialogue will be streamed live online. The dialogues will continue with new candidates until the Security Council makes its recommendation. And I expect everyone who is serious about becoming the world’s next chief diplomat to engage openly and directly with the full UN membership and the people that he or she will ultimately serve.

    An opportunity for change

    Of course, these innovations will not directly transform our world and discussions continue on issues such as the length and renewability of the Secretary-General’s term and whether the General Assembly should vote on an appointment or not.

    But they do have the potential to establish a new standard of transparency and inclusivity in international affairs. They can increase our chances of securing the best possible candidate to lead the United Nations. And they represent, I believe, a moment in history when the General Assembly – the world’s most representative and democratic decision-making body – reasserts itself.

    Given the global challenges we face today, this could be a real game-changer.

    So, please, go online, participate on social media, make yourself heard and help us find the best possible candidate for UN Secretary-General, that our world needs.

    By Mogens Lykketoft, President of the 70th session of the UN General Assembly

  • 71st Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 71)

    71st Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 71)

    The 71st Regular Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 71) will convene at UN Headquarters on Tuesday, 13 September 2016. The General Debate will open on Tuesday, 20 September 2016.

     

  • Buhari to discuss terrorism, global security in New York

    Buhari to discuss terrorism, global security in New York

    President Muhammadu Buhari will leave Nigeria for New York on Thursday for meetings and interactions with notable world leaders during the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

    In New York, President Buhari will hold talks with the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki Moon, United States President, Barack Obama, President Francois Hollande of France and Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain.

    He will also interact with Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, President Vladmir Putin of Russia, President Xi Jinping of China and Prime Minister Narenda Modi of India.

    President Buhari, according to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, will be accompanied by the Governors of Sokoto, Kaduna and Niger States, the National Security Adviser and the Permanent Secretaries in the Federal Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defence, Finance, Health, Industry, Trade and Investment.

    He will deliver Nigeria’s statement to the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly on Monday, September 28.

    President Buhari is also scheduled to address the World Leaders Summit on Violent Extremism to which he was personally invited by Mr. Ban Ki Moon during the Secretary-General’s recent visit to Nigeria.

    Also on the President’s schedule in New York are a meeting of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council, a High-Level Roundtable on South-South Cooperation organised by President Xi Jinping of China and the UN, and participation in the launching of an updated global health strategy for women and children.

    He is also scheduled for meetings with former U.S President, Bill Clinton, Mr. Bill Gates of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation which is assisting Nigeria in several areas including polio eradication, and former Prime British Minister, Gordon Brown, the UN Special Envoy on Global Education who is one of the main drivers of the Safe Schools Initiative.

    The President will conclude his visit to New York on Tuesday, September 29 and leave the city for Abuja on the same day.

     

  • UN Security Council

    UN Security Council

    Nigeria should tackle the basics at home before seeking grand distractions abroad

    President Goodluck Jonathan’s call for a non-permanent seat, in the 2014-2015 session of United Nations Security Council is legitimate and fair. But before the country can lead a credible campaign for the democratisation of that body – that principle is infallible – it must settle the basics at home. This is one area where foreign aspirations must help propel better governance at home, if the whole exercise were not to turn a grand distraction.

    In making a demand for the non-permanent seat, President Jonathan did a brilliant presentation. Addressing other world leaders and delegates at the opening of the 68th Session of the UN General Assembly, in New York, United States on September 24, the president announced that both the African bloc, through the African Union (AU), and the West African bloc, through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have endorsed Nigeria’s aspiration. Therefore, support from other blocs in the global body should come as routine. That was well pitched.

    But beyond regional support, Nigeria’s perennial support to the United Nations, in terms of global and regional peace-keeping missions, is another strong recommendation. If the Security Council drives these peace missions on behalf of the General Assembly, and Nigeria had always contributed contingents to keep and enforce peace in trouble spots all over, then it makes eminent sense for Nigeria to seek election into the Security Council.

    This is a legitimate request that the president has well articulated. What must follow is effective diplomatic lobby to make the aspiration a reality.

    But the much more difficult campaign is the democratisation of the UN Security Council. “Democratisation” is euphemism for either total equality of the 15 members without any member wielding veto powers as it is now; or Nigeria landing one of the permanent member seats, for the African Region too to hold some veto in the Council’s affairs and decisions.

    To be sure, the principle of democratising decision-making in the Council is fair and just. It is an ideal that should be pursued, no matter how long it takes. Of all the 15 members, the Big Five including Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States hold the veto. So, no matter how reasonable or equitable or urgent a matter is, it suffers a fatal kiss should any of the five wield its veto.

    Often, the veto has led to some balance of terror, resulting in delayed or even scuttling of actions, particularly when the Big Five members have ideological differences. But at times too, it has led to a conspiracy of the strong against the weak, which often buys poisoned peace, all too soon coming back to haunt the global community.

    But even with the Big Five having veto power to cancel out themselves, it is always a roiling point that they are only one-third minority, dictating tunes to the two-third majority. The Big Five insist it is equitable, since they bear the brunt of any action the Council might decide to take – a not unreasonable argument.

    But the “Weak” 10, on behalf of other members of the United Nations, counter it is patently undemocratic, for always being lorded over. There is, therefore, the difference between the pragmatic and the ideal.

    For Nigeria to lead the campaign for such democratisation therefore, it must equip itself. It must build its economy. It must develop its people. It must earn enough international economic clout, prestige and respect to command global attention in the matter.

    Ironically, the place of attaining such lofty goals is at home, not abroad. If the Big Five have literally muscled the global community into accepting the Council’s veto system, they base the “equitability” of the apparently unjust action on the likelihood of losing more than the non-permanent members, in case of any adverse consequences. That is no illegitimate argument, except of course the majority members in the Council can build themselves and effectively counteract the argument. They obviously can’t – at least, for now.

    For Nigeria to make a bid for a permanent seat in the Council, therefore, and to angle for veto as the rest, it must fix the basics at home. The sad fact is that among the three contestants for the post in Africa, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa, Nigeria, on the basis of socio-economic development indices, appears the least placed. Yet, it is not only the best centrally placed (virtually right at the heart of the continent), it is also the most populous – both in Africa and in the entire Black universe.

    But neither the accident of geography nor the boom of population is enough. What is needed is birthing a country that functions well, meets the developmental needs of its citizens, forge its own economic niche, deliver local productivity and prosperity and earn respect among the comity of nations.

    With such a profile, when Nigeria speaks, the world will listen. With renewed economic power, Nigeria can then challenge the “equitability” theory of the Permanent Five. It too can claim that it deserves more from the international system, since it has much to lose if it goes awry.

    So, there is nothing wrong with Nigeria aspiring to a permanent seat in the UN Security Council. But it must take the first steps by putting right the home front. Otherwise, such foreign aspiration would be nothing but grand distraction.

  • Jonathan to meet Obama in New York

    Jonathan to meet Obama in New York

    President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to hold five bilateral meetings, including one with United States President Barack Obama at the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

    According to the Nigerian Mission, the meetings will cover the European Union, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Lebanon as well as Trinidad and Tobago.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Jonathan is also expected to present Nigeria’s achievements under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

    He will also identify the parameters of the post-2015 development agenda in his address to the 193-member state body, where scores of Heads of State would take to the podium next week in the annual general debate.

    Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof. Joy Ogwu, who was represented by a senior official at the mission, Mr. Anthony Bosah, told journalists that during the bilateral meetings, the president would touch on agriculture, infrastructure, power and solid minerals.

    Bosah said Jonathan would also intensify the country’s campaign for admission into the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member, on his arrival on Saturday.

    “Nigeria is hopeful that the campaign for a non-permanent seat is going to yield fruits with the African Union and ECOWAS giving their nod, with an exception of Gambia which is trying to split Nigeria’s votes.

    “The Central African Republic on whose ticket Chad Republic is campaigning for is no issue,’’ he said.

    According to him, Nigeria’s peacekeeping operations have track records with the UN in Mali, Guinea Bissau and Liberia, notwithstanding the opposition of those who are not giving the country their votes on account of withdrawal of Nigeria’s troops from Mali.

    “Nigeria’s domestic and foreign policies as well as democracy dividends, eminently qualify her for that seat at the Security Council,’’ Bosah added.

     

     

     

  • Nigeria’s quest for environment governance

    Nigeria’s quest for environment governance

    I have read with admiration the succinct exposition of Prof Olanrewaju Fagbohun in the increasingly important area of Environmental Law in this fourth inaugural lecture of the institute.

    As I would expect from a master of his craft, his analysis are deep, coherent, thought provoking and a clear guide on what Nigeria must do if she is to achieve sustainable environmental governance. As it was put in the Millennium Declaration adopted by the UN General Assembly in September, 2000, the law has an important role to play in freeing ‘all of humanity, and above all our children and grand children, from the threat of living on a planet irredeemably spoilt by human activities, and whose resources would no longer be sufficient for their needs’.

    As noted in the lecture, the recognition of the intersections between social and environmental problems and the desire to address the challenges posed by environmental regulations were the factors that informed the concept of ‘sustainable development’. The author underscored the fact that while it can be said that the challenges of environmental regulation are to a large extent general, empirical evidence has shown that environmental disaster risk is disproportionately concentrated in developing countries and will continue to be so for reasons of their lack of technological resources to effectively mitigate and/or adapt to environmental risks; lack of funds to develop requisite infrastructure; and non-existent or inadequate governance structures to develop, co-ordinate and mainstream necessary national policies and institutional systems.

    With specific reference to the legal framework for environmental governance in Nigeria, the author argues that the inefficiency with environmental regulation is a creation rather than the effect of the law. Under a segment titled, Patchwork of Environmental Governance Therapies, he contends that in the absence of a profound reconfiguration of the present regime, particularly in the way it has guided allocation and monitoring of responsibilities for environmental protection, there is no reason to imagine and/or expect current strategies to succeed in fostering sustainable development. He suggests a roadmap to intergovernmental cooperation and a review of the specter of environmental remedies.

    Fagbohun provides incisive analysis of different attempts by Nigeria to subject environment-related issues to various forms of legal and pseudo-legal regulations. His analysis as relate to administrative remedies, criminal sanctions and the civil liability regime reveal some potentially alarming developments to which these attempts have given rise. Premised thereon, Prof Fagbohun presents alternative vantage perspectives from which Nigeria should seek to appropriately regulate environmental issues.

    The author identified in clear terms what should be the judicial approach to a green culture, and why those saddled with responsibility for environmental decisions should give more premium to public participation.

    The great strength of this lecture is the depth of its coverage. The critical analysis of the author is without doubt invaluable to the development of this area of the law. It is a significant contribution to the field of environmental law in this country. I am particularly glad that this is coming at an important time when the National Assembly is engaged in a holistic review of the Constitution.

    I congratulate Prof Fagbohun on the lecture that he has produced and I commend it not only to those in government, but, also the public.

     

    Prof Epiphany Azinge (SAN)

    Director – General

     

    Your Excellencies, Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members of the National Assembly,

    Honourable Members of State Houses of Assembly here present,

    My Lords Spiritual and Temporal, The Institute Secretary and other principal officers of NIALS here present, distinguished professors and Heads of Departments, Senior Advocates of Nigeria and other distinguished members of the Bar

    Other members of teaching and non-teaching staff, our invited guests and dignitaries both from within and outside of government, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, family members here present, both nuclear and extended, gentlemen of the print and electronic media, our dear postgraduate students and other students; All other protocols duly observed.

    Preamble

    It is with humility and profound thanks that I give honour and glory to Allah for giving me this special privilege and opportunity to deliver the fourth in the series of inaugural lecture of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies. To me as an environmentalist, the number ‘4’ is quite significant: the number is closely connected to the order of the world (warmth, coldness, dryness and humidity); African traditional jurisprudence regularly makes reference to “the four corners of the earth – North, East, West and South”, in the Torah, the first use of the number “4” is found in connection with the water that flowed out of the beautiful Garden of Eden; in the mythology of creation, it signifies fullness and completion of the four stages of creation when God said1, for My glory, I have created it, I have formed it, and I have made it; there are the four Gospels – Mathew, Mark, Luke and John to the Judeo – Christian; so also, there are the four books in Islam – Torah, Zaboor (Psalms), Injeel (The Gospel), Qur’an; and the four Arch Angels Jibraeel (Gabriel), Mikaeel (Michael), Izraeel (Azrael) and Israfil (Raphael). What all these symbolize for environmental sustainability is not just the organic totality and interconnectedness of our earth, but, also the undoubted linkage of our faiths. I, therefore, see the hand of God in giving me the opportunity to address the subject-matter of Environment and Sustainability as the 4th Inaugural lecturer of this great Institute. I thank Allah for His mercies.

     

    • Fagbohun is Professor of Environmental Law and Head of Department, Akinola Aguda School of Postgraduate Studies, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Lagos.