Connect with us

International

Gaza War: Nigeria Promotes Two-state Solution

Published

on

Gaza War: Nigeria Promotes Two-state Solution

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria has supported the two-state solution to the crisis between Israel and Palestine.

Nigeria which have since been calling for deescalation of the battle in Gaza between Hamas and Israeli force, on Tuesday through her Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, said the advocated two-state solution should be enforced to allow for both Israeli and Palestinian states.

The Minister made the call while speaking with the press after a meeting with the Palestinian Ambassador to Nigeria, Abdallah Abu Shawesh, on Tuesday evening.

He said Nigeria believes both parties have a right to an independent state.

The Minister lamented that innocent civilians were being killed in the conflict, calling on both parties to stop hostilities.

Tuggar said: “I reiterated to him, Palestinian Ambassador to Nigeria, Nigeria’s position which is for a two-state solution and we are totally against wanton and indiscriminate violence against civilians.

“It doesn’t matter who is carrying the violence out, Nigeria stands against that and with regards to the current situation in Gaza, Nigeria voted in favour of a cessation of hostilities in Gaza. That is our position and it will remain so.”

The United Nations had said Tuesday that the Gaza Strip has become a graveyard for thousands of children, fearing more may die of dehydration.

The UN children’s agency UNICEF said there was a risk that the number of child deaths directly from bombardment could be eclipsed.

The Palestinian Ambassador to Nigeria told journalists that he was at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to solicit the support of Nigeria following her prominent position in Africa in particular and the world at large.

Shawesh alleged that Israel was waging war against the Palestinians on three fronts – militarily, politically and in the media, calling on Nigeria to speak out for the Palestinian people.

“We all believe that Nigeria with its heavy political weight all around the world and particularly in Africa can do something very significant, can raise its voice. Many civilian children will be saved. This is very significant to us.

“Also when it comes to humanitarian issues, we are still looking at Nigeria to do something significant, especially after the mass destruction of Gaza. We will need a lot of rescue equipment and we believe that Nigeria can do a lot,” he said.

Gaza War: Nigeria Promotes Two-state Solution

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

International

OP-ED: “A RESCUE PLAN FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT”

Published

on

OP-ED: “A RESCUE PLAN FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT”

By: Michael Mike

This month, leaders will gather in Sevilla, Spain, on a rescue mission: to help fix how the world invests in sustainable development.

The stakes could not be higher. A decade after the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals and many global commitments to finance them, two-thirds of the targets are lagging. And the world is falling short by over $4 trillion annually in the resources developing countries need to deliver on these promises by 2030.

Meanwhile, the global economy is slowing, trade tensions are rising, aid budgets are being slashed while military spending soars, and international cooperation is under unprecedented strain.

The global development crisis is not abstract. It is measured in families going to bed hungry, children going unvaccinated, girls being forced to drop out of school and entire communities deprived of basic services.

We must correct course. That begins at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Sevilla, where an ambitious, globally supported plan to invest in the Sustainable Development Goals must be adopted.

That plan should include three essential elements.

First, Sevilla must help accelerate the flow of resources to the countries who need it most. Fast.

Countries must be in the driver’s seat, mobilizing domestic resources by strengthening revenue collection and addressing tax evasion, money laundering and illicit financial flows through international cooperation. This would provide much-needed resources to prioritize spending on areas with the greatest impact such as education, healthcare, jobs, social protection, food security, and renewable energy.

At the same time, national development banks, regional and Multilateral Development Banks need to come together to finance major investments.

To support this, the lending capacity of these banks needs to triple so developing countries can better access capital on affordable terms with longer timelines.

This increased access should include re-channeling of unconditional reserve assets — or Special Drawing Rights — to developing countries, preferably through Multilateral Development Banks to multiply their impact.

Private investment is also essential. Resources can be unlocked by making it easier for private finance to support bankable development projects and by promoting solutions that mitigate currency risks and combine public and private finance more effectively.

Throughout, donors must keep their development promises.

Second, we must fix the global debt system. It is unfair and broken.

The current borrowing system is unsustainable, and developing countries have little confidence in it. It’s easy to see why. Debt service is a steamroller crushing development gains, to the tune of more than $1.4 trillion a year. Many governments are forced to spend more on debt payments than on essentials like health and education combined.

Sevilla must result in concrete steps to reduce borrowing costs, facilitate timely debt restructuring for countries burdened by unsustainable debt, and prevent debt crises from unfolding in the first place.

In advance of the conference, a number of countries put forward proposals to ease the debt burden on developing countries. This includes making it easier to pause debt service in times of emergency; establishing a single debt registry to strengthen transparency; and improving how the IMF, World Bank and credit-ratings agencies assess risks in developing countries.

Finally, Sevilla must raise the voice and influence of developing countries in the international financial system so it better serves their needs.

International financial institutions must reform their governance structures to enable greater voice and participation of developing countries in the management of the institutions they depend on.

The world also needs a fairer global tax system, one shaped by all governments — not just the wealthiest and most powerful.

The creation of a “borrowers club” for countries to coordinate their approaches and learn from one another is another promising step toward addressing power imbalances.

The meeting in Sevilla is not about charity. It’s about justice, and building a future in which countries can thrive, build, trade, and prosper together. In our increasingly interconnected world, a future of haves and have-nots is a recipe for even greater global insecurity that will keep weighing down progress for all.

With renewed global commitment and action, Sevilla can spark new momentum to restore a measure of faith in international cooperation and deliver on sustainable development for people and planet.

In Sevilla, leaders must act together to make this rescue mission a success.

OP-ED: “A RESCUE PLAN FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT”

Continue Reading

International

Nigeria, Russia to deepen military, technical cooperation

Published

on

Nigeria, Russia to deepen military, technical cooperation

By: Zagazola Makama

The Russian Federation has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening defence and military-technical cooperation with Nigeria as part of efforts to promote peace, sovereignty and stability across the African continent.

Speaking at a bilateral meeting with Nigerian Defense Chief, General Christopher Musa and other officials, a Russian envoy described Nigeria as a strategic and promising partner, noting its position as the most populous country in Africa and a key regional player.

“We consider the Federal Republic of Nigeria a promising partner on the African continent. You are the largest country, and we support the efforts of the Nigerian authorities to strengthen national armed forces to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and ensure regional security,” the envoy said.

He expressed satisfaction with Nigeria’s willingness to pursue constructive cooperation with Russia in the areas of military and defence technology.

“We positively assess your commitment to fruitful cooperation with our country in military and military-technical spheres,” he added.

The Russian official called for an open discussion on current defence priorities, pledging continued support to Nigeria and other African partners.

In his response, Gen Musa, appreciated them for their support and commitment to the Armed Forces of Nigeria and for inviting him and his for the 80th victory parade.

He also appreciated them for the donation of weapons and drones to boost the campaign against terrorism within Nigeria and the Sahel Region

“Today, we discuss the most relevant issues of cooperation between our defence ministries. We value our friendship with Russia and deeply appreciate all the assistance Russia has provided assistance that has often been critical for many countries,” he said.

He praised Russia’s reliability and action-oriented diplomacy, saying, “You don’t just make promises, you fulfil them. Everyone knows Russia works for the good of peace and stability.”said General Musa.

The meeting, attended by top defence officials from both countries, is expected to yield agreements that will boost training, logistics, arms supply and intelligence-sharing in the fight against terrorism.

Nigeria, Russia to deepen military, technical cooperation

Continue Reading

International

Nigeria Congratulates Germany on Election of New Chancellor

Published

on

Nigeria Congratulates Germany on Election of New Chancellor

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria has extended its warm congratulations to Germany on the successful election of Friedrich Merz as the new Chancellor. The Conservative Leader
won with 325 votes in the 630-Seat Bundestag on Tuesday, 6th May, 2025.

A statement by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa read: “Nigeria commends Germany’s strong democratic traditions and values, which have once again been demonstrated through a peaceful and transparent electoral process. We are confident that under Friedrich Merz’s leadership, Germany will continue to play a pivotal role in advancing global peace, stability, and prosperity.

“As longstanding partners, Nigeria looks forward to deepening bilateral relations with Germany in areas of mutual interest, including trade, investment, security, and sustainable development. We also reaffirm our commitment to strengthening multilateral cooperation within the framework of the United Nations and other international fora.

“The Nigerian government and people wish the new Chancellor a successful tenure and express our readiness to work closely with Germany for the benefit of both nations and the global community.”

Nigeria Congratulates Germany on Election of New Chancellor

Continue Reading

Trending

Verified by MonsterInsights