Nigeria To UN: Palestinian People Deserve Independence

Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Palestinian people’s quest for independence, calling it a fundamental right.

Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, disclosed this as part of the country’s national statement while addressing world leaders at the ongoing 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

The Vice President expressed deep concern about the ongoing conflict in Gaza and other Palestinian territories, stating that the situation cannot be overlooked in any discussion on war, peace, or humanitarian issues.

“Today, we are all witnesses to the heart-wrenching situation in Gaza and other Palestinian territories,” Shettima said. “We cannot discuss war and peace, conflicts and resolution, or humanitarian imperatives today without reflecting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that has been raging since August 7 last year.”

He pointed out that while the conflict has persisted during this period, its roots date back nearly a century, highlighting the failure of the international community to uphold the founding principles of the United Nations.

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“What this tells us is that the international community has failed to live up to the spirit and aspiration of the United Nations to break the wall of inequality, violence, and domination of one people by another. Justice is antithetical to revenge. Freedom is an inalienable right and a natural entitlement that cannot be denied to any people,” Shettima said.

He emphasized that the Palestinian people deserve their independence and the right to their own homeland, a claim recognised by the UN General Assembly and international law but continuously ignored.

“The Palestinian people deserve their independence, they deserve to have a home of their own and territories already recognized by this very assembly and international law which is being ruled ignored. Nigeria continues to add efforts to bring back on track a two-state solution that offers the prospect for a new beginning for the region,” Shettima added.

Shettima also reiterated Nigeria’s support for the United Nations peacekeeping operations and highlighted the importance of building strong and professional military forces in Africa to tackle various security challenges.

“Nigeria reaffirms its commitment to supporting the United Nations peacekeeping operation. We recognize the need for Africa to build strong and professional armies to meet the multiple challenges we face. Consequently, we reiterate the call for international support to operationalize the African Standby Force, in addition to providing resources to ensure its upgrade and effectiveness,” VP Shettima concluded.