Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima has arrived in New York, United States of America, to attend the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly UNGA, scheduled to hold from Monday, September 22 to Sunday, September 28, 2025.
Representing President Bola Tinubu, the Vice President is set to deliver Nigeria’s national statement at the global event, participate in the UN high-level general debates and attend various side events.
While in New York, the Vice President will announce Nigeria’s new Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement and attend the high-level roundtable of the Global Champions on Adequate and Affordable Housing.
He will also present Nigeria’s national statement and engage in several bilateral meetings and other engagements.
He was received on arrival by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, and the Charge d’Affaires at the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations, Amb. Samson Itegboje.
Also, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, the Nigerian Defence Attaché in New York, Brigadier General Edward Koleoso and Defence Attaché Washington, Group Captain Sani Kalgo, among others.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, has reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to effective multilateralism and enhanced partnerships.
Speaking on Nigeria’s target for this year’s UNGA, Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Tuggar, said Nigeria is championing the United Nations Global Convention on Taxation, which is very central to the ongoing push to reform the global financial architecture.
He said, “This is something that has put Nigeria in the position of leadership, and you can see that during the briefing for the Vice President, there were Ministers present, senior government officials, and the whole idea of having this briefing is so that we will all be on the same page.”
The Minister noted that Africa is the only continent or grouping that has a common position on what should be done when it comes to reforming the UN Security Council, insisting that Africa should have a minimum of two permanent seats based on what is referred to as the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration.
“We also have the issue of peacekeeping, you know, Nigeria has participated in one of the 60 peacekeeping operations that the United Nations has had. We want to ensure that when it comes to peace, the contributions to peacekeeping, not just troops, but the funding, we are not hit twice.
“Nigeria contributes not only on the African side but indeed also on the UN side. We reiterated Nigeria’s position on the conflict in the Middle East, in Gaza, Palestine, the issue of Eastern Congo, and the conflict in Sudan. The Vice President will be meeting with the Prime Minister of Sudan, and he is also going to participate in the African Union Peace and Security Council meeting,” he said.
Also, the Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, said Nigeria’s participation in the 80th UNGA will further reposition the country as an investment destination and one of the leading economies in Africa.