Defence Minister Reaffirms Nigeria’s Commitment to Human Rights During UN Visit
The Minister of Defence, Christopher Gwabin Musa, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to international humanitarian law and globally accepted human rights standards in all military operations.
The minister gave the assurance during a diplomatic working visit by the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Victims’ Rights Advocate, Najla Nassif Palma, and her delegation at the Ship House in Abuja.
During the meeting, General Musa briefed the UN delegation on measures put in place by the Federal Government to address issues arising from past foreign peacekeeping missions involving Nigerian personnel. He assured the delegation that a transparent communication framework had been established to facilitate the resolution of longstanding paternity claims linked to legacy peacekeeping operations in Liberia.
According to the minister, the mechanism is designed to ensure the timely handling of outstanding cases and provide a pathway toward resolving issues that have remained unresolved for decades.
Speaking during the engagement, Ms. Palma disclosed that 42 legacy cases are currently under review by the United Nations. She appealed for the continued cooperation of the Nigerian government in ensuring justice and closure for affected individuals.
The UN official also noted that some of those impacted by the cases have expressed interest in obtaining Nigerian citizenship as part of efforts to address their circumstances.
Both parties agreed to strengthen collaboration through specialised training programmes, workshops and capacity-building initiatives aimed at deepening the integration of human rights principles into the operations of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
The meeting underscored the commitment of Nigeria and the United Nations to promoting accountability, protecting human rights and addressing outstanding issues arising from past peacekeeping missions.
Defence Minister Reaffirms Nigeria’s Commitment to Human Rights During UN Visit