The President of the 68th Session of the General Assembly;
Heads of State and Government;
The Secretary-General;
Distinguished Delegates;
Ladies and Gentlemen
Mr President,
On behalf of the Government and People of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I salute you as you preside over the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. I guarantee you of the complete help and cooperation of the Nigerian delegation.
I additionally want to lengthen our
commendation to the Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki-moon, and place on report, Nigeria’s appreciation for his centered and dedicated management of the United Nations system.
This Session is coming at a very attempting interval when our world faces quite a lot of vital challenges which make it crucial for us to work inside the Charter of the United Nations to meaningfully tackle them.
It is subsequently apt that the theme, Post 2015 Development Agenda: Setting the Stage, signposts our need and dedication to actively cooperate for the development of the general welfare and well-being of essentially the most weak residents of the member-states of our Organization.
Nigeria appreciates the consultative nature of designing the Post-2015 improvement agenda. Earlier within the yr, we supported this international outreach by inclusive consultations and surveys of quite a lot of Nigerians who've expressed their aspirations with respect to the world they count on past 2015.
A serious spotlight of this course of, which has elevated nationwide possession of the agenda, is the emphasis on the eradication of poverty because the overarching precept within the formulation of the successor framework.
Indeed, tomorrow, we will probably be internet hostingan aspect occasion on the implementation of the MDGs, in collaboration with the UN, quite a lot of African nations, and our improvement companions.
As I had trigger to say to this Assembly final Session, 2015 will not be a vacation spot however solely a milestone to a greater, safer, more healthy and extra compassionate world. Let us subsequently renew our dedication to the processes that may develop the post-MDGs framework.
Mr. President,
This goal is of specific resoce to us in Africa the place the challenges of poverty, illiteracy, meals insecurity, and local weather change proceed to have interaction the eye of the political management.
The excellent news nonetheless, is that within the final decade, a sustained democratization course of throughout the continent has made important distinction in governance processes, establishments and buildings. Today, now we have a renascent Africa that has moved away from the period of dictatorship to a brand new daybreak the place the beliefs of excellent governance and an emphasis on human rights and justice are starting to drive state-society relations. This is the current actuality of Africa that should change the previous prejudices and assumptions in regards to the continent.
We are agency in our conviction that democracy is prime to attaining the requisite stability that may allow the belief of a sustainable post-2015 improvement agenda in Africa.
This emergent Africa would require the continued help and partnership of the worldwide group. An Africa that's not merely a vacation spot for help however one that's concerned in constructive, multi-sectoral exchanges on the worldwide stage. Our continent stands able to proceed to have interaction the remainder of the world as a companion in formulating a world improvement agenda that may assure peace, safety and stability.
I want to specific my appreciation for Nigeria’s choice as co-Chair of the Expert Committee on Ficing Sustainable Development.
The significance of this Committee’s task can't be overstated. For the post-2015 improvement agenda to be lifelike, it should be backed by a strong ficing framework which I hope will obtain the sturdy backing of our Organization’s extra endowed members.
Mr. President,
Nigeria’s dedication to sustainable peace and safety propels the nation to motion together with member states of our sub-regional and continental organizations, every time stability is threatened in our continent. In latest years, Africa has had its share of conflicts notably in Mali, Guinea-Bissau, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic and Somalia.
It is noteworthy that African leaders, with the help of the worldwide group, have demonstrated the capability to work in live performance and decisively in pursuit of long-term options within the affected States. While much more nonetheless must be carried out, we're satisfied that progress is being made.
The latest Presidential elections in Mali herald a brand new starting that ought to translate into peace and prosperity for its folks and supply a stronger foundation for stability inside the sub-region. I congratulate President Boubacar Keita. Similarly, the political transition course of in Guinea Bissau holds a lot promise. Among African leaders, there's a larger dedication and give attention to the transformation of the continent. This is the required impetus for the achievement of improvement targets
that may profit the folks, and rebrand the continent much more positively.
Although our world has not witnessed a world warfare because the institution of the United Nations, there have been a number of conflicts with devastating penalties and affect in just about all areas of the world. As international residents, now we have a sacred responsibility to free our world of wars, rivalries, ethnic conflicts, and spiritual divisions. Our collective effort in our drive for a greater world won't cease to bind us collectively.
Mr. President,
Nigeria continues to help the efforts of the United Nations in addressing the worldwide initiative to fight the menace of the illicit commerce in Small Arms and Light Weapons. We have redoubled efforts to handle this onerous problem inside our borders and throughout the West African sub-region.
In doing so, we additionally acknowledge the necessity for a broad-based international partnership within the on-going battle towards trans-border crimes, together with terrorism and acts of piracy. It is regrettable that these scourges are sustained by unfettered entry by non-state actors to illicit small arms and lightweight weapons with which they foster insecurity and instability throughout our continent. For us in Africa, these are the ‘weapons of mass destruction’!
It is subsequently, within the mild of our collective obligation and unceasing wrestle to finish this nightmare, that I congratulate Member-States on the adoption of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) in April this yr. Our hope is that upon its entry into drive, the ATT would herald a period of accountable commerce in typical arms which is vital to the safety of countries.
In line with our continued dedication to this undertaking, Nigeria has signed and ratified the Treaty. We won't cease to have interaction different Member-States for its profitable implementation.
Mr. President,
Terrorism constitutes a serious risk to international peace and safety, and undermines the capability for sustained improvement. In Nigeria, the specter of terrorism in just a few States within the North Eastern a part of our nation has confirmed to be a problem to nationwide stability. We will spare no effort in addressing this menace. We are subsequently confronting it with each useful resource at our disp osal with due regard for elementary human rights and the rule of regulation.
Nigeria will like to position on report its appreciation to the worldwide group for its help on this regard. The reign of terror wherever on the planet is an assault on our collective humanity. Three days in the past, the stark actuality of this menace was once more delivered to the fore by the dastardly terrorist assault in Nairobi, Kenya. We should stand collectively to win this warfare collectively.
Mr. President,
Piracy, like terrorism, is one other menace that has attained worrisome proportions, particularly in Africa’s coastal waters. At the bilateral and multilateral ranges, Nigeria has promoted cooperation to mitigate its affect and penalties on the safety and economies of the affected coastal states.
Indeed, in June this yr, the leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and the Gulf of Guinea Commission met in Yaounde, Cameroon, and got here up with sensible steps to collectively confront the menace of piracy within the Gulf of Guinea. This effort will, little question, require reinforcement and wider help and collaborative motion on the a part of our worldwide companions.
Mr. President,
The scenario within the Middle East stays unstable. The reported use of chemical weapons within the Syrian disaster, is unacceptable. Nigeria condemns, within the strongest potential phrases, using chemical weapons which are prohibited by International Conventions.
We applaud the present diplomatic efforts to avert additional escalation of the disaster. We urge all events concerned to finish the violence and search a negotiated resolution, together with the instrumentality of the United Nations.
The risk which nuclear weapons pose to the survival of the human race is to be understood not simply within the context of aspirational nations but in addition the nations already in possession of such weapons. Nuclear weapons are as unsafe within the fingers of small powers as they're within the fingers of the main powers. It is our collective accountability to induce the worldwide group to reply to the clarion name for a peaceable universe in an age of uncertainty.
We can attain this goal if we undertake measures and insurance policies that may promote nuclear disarmament, shield and renew the environment, and push in direction of a global system that's primarily based on belief, mutual respect and shared objectives.
Mr. President,
I consider that I specific the priority of many in regards to the gradual tempo of effort and obvious lack of progress within the reform of the United Nations, particularly the Security Council. We consider strongly, that the decision for democratization worldwide shouldn't be for States solely, but in addition, for International Organizations such because the UN. That is why we name for the democratization of the Security Council.
This is fascinating for the enthronement of justice, fairness, and equity; and in addition for the promotion of a way of inclusiveness and steadiness in our world.
Our help for the United Nations Security Council in its major accountability for the upkeep of worldwide peace and safety has been whole and unwavering. We have, in earlier membership of the Council, demonstrated each the political will and capability to have interaction in key Council obligations. Nigeria has subsequently determined to hunt election for the 2014-2015 Non-Permanent Seat of the us.
I'm happy to state that Nigeria has obtained the endorsement of the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union. We urge this august Assembly to endorse Nigeria’s candidature.
Mr. President,
Our world continues to be confronted by urgent issues and threats. No assertion that will probably be made throughout this Session can exhaust the extent of those issues. The world appears to be like to us, as leaders, to offer hope within the midst of disaster, to offer steerage by tough socio-political divisions, and to make sure that we reside in a greater world.
We have obligations to the current technology, however now we have a larger obligation to generations but unborn who ought to at some point inherit a world of sufficiency regardless of the circumstances of their start or the place they reside on the globe. We should work to make that worldan actuality in recognition of our frequent heritage.
We should attempt to eradicate poverty, starvation, illness and human distress; we should eradicate the scourge of nuclear, chemical, organic, in addition to small arms and lightweight weapons. We should dedicate ourselves to working collectively to handle international, regional and nationwide challenges and ship an extra peaceable, equitable and affluent world for all. It is our responsibility. We should not fail.
I thanks.