ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to the United Nations, pledging total support for the global body’s charter while calling for innovative funding strategies to combat dwindling international aid resources.
The official declaration was made on Tuesday, September 2, 2026, during a farewell courtesy visit from outgoing UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja. According to an official press statement issued by Richard Eleso, Special Assistant on Media and Strategic Communication to the Honourable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, the federal government welcomed what it described as a positive strategic shift within the UN system.
Speaking on behalf of the Nigerian government during the high-level meeting, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, emphasized the nation’s reliance on the UN’s altruistic contributions toward peacebuilding, development, and humanitarian aid in vulnerable regions.
“For us as a country, we value our relationship with the United Nations,” Ambassador Enikanolaiye said. “We participate actively in the maintenance of international peace and security and in advancing the other purposes for which the UN was established. We are always pleased to engage with the UN because your work supports our people and contributes to Nigeria’s success. I wish to pledge our total support for the United Nations.”
Addressing the global challenge of shrinking humanitarian budgets, the Minister urged the international organization to explore innovative financing mechanisms, specifically highlighting stronger public-private partnerships to sustain development efforts.
In response, Fall—who is concluding nearly a decade of service in Nigeria across UNICEF and the UN system later this year—described Nigeria as his “second home.”
Fall praised Nigeria’s enduring leadership role in West Africa, recalling its historic military interventions through ECOMOG as a defining legacy of regional stability. He commended the country for remaining not only a dedicated UN Member State, but a vital rallying force for global peace and security.
