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Nigeria Reiterates Support for Two-State Solution, Insists It’s Key to Ending Israeli-Palestinian Perennial Crisis
Nigeria Reiterates Support for Two-State Solution, Insists It’s Key to Ending Israeli-Palestinian Perennial Crisis
By: Michael Mike
Nigeria has reiterated its support for two state solution to ending the perennial Israeli- Palestinian crisis, insisting that for peaceful coexistence in the area the two warring states should be given autonomy.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dunoma Umar disclosed this at the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the United Nations in Abuja.
The Permanent Secretary who was represented by the Director of Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Wahab Akande, said: “Nigeria like the rest of the world, stands and says, without doubt, that a two-state solution remains the only path to lasting peace for Israel and Palestine, where both States live in peace and prosperity.
“We attest the opportunities that peace brings, just as the extremist hopes to drive apart rival communities and different religions. We thus work through multilateral platforms within the rule of law, to build the consensus and support that makes this immensely difficult and dangerous task that much easier.
“This is how to deny the enemies the space to stoke tension and cause despair. By our experience that this offers the best, perhaps only hope for peace, reconciliation and victory for the civilised values of a shared humanity.”
On the need for reforms at the UN, Umar said that Nigeria demand for permanent seat at the Security Council is a demand for fairness, for continental equitable representation.
He added that the demand for reform is one that projects credibility to the very institution upon which the hope of multilateralism hinges.
He said: “The United Nations will discover its true relevance only when it sees the world as it is, not as it was. Nigeria’s journey tells this story with clarity: when the UN was founded, we were a colony of 20 million people, absent from the tables where decisions about our fate were taken; today, we are a sovereign nation of well over 200 million, projected to be the third most populous country in the world, with one of the youngest and most dynamic populations on earth by 2025. A stabilising force in regional security and a consistent partner in global peacekeeping, our case for permanent seat at the Security Council is a demand for fairness, for continental equitable representation, and for reform that projects credibility to the very institution upon which the hope of multilateralism rests.”
He said that “Nigeria stands firmly behind the UN80 Initiative of the Secretary-General, and the resolution adopted by this Assembly on 18 July 2025, a bold step to reform the wider United Nations system for greater relevance, efficiency, and effectiveness in the face of unprecedented financial strain. We support the drive to rationalise structures and end the duplication of responsibilities and programmes, so that this institution may speak with one voice and act with greater coherence. None of us can achieve a peaceful world in isolation. This is the heavy burden of sovereignty.”
He also added that “In cognizance of Nigeria’s belief in the value and power of democracy, Nigeria, as a diverse country, we are working with the United Nations to strengthen Democratic institutions in our region and beyond, through the Regional Partnership for Democracy. The increasingly difficult security outlook has prompted many Member States to count the cost of the emerging world order. Nigeria is already familiar with such difficult choices and our view is that the path to sustainable peace lies in economic growth and prosperity. The government has taken the difficult but necessary steps to restructure our economy and remove distortions, including subsidies and currency controls.”
He added that: “Nigeria with other members of the African continent have made significant strides in recent years to put our affairs in order. We can take that progress to the next level, a level that presents new opportunities for trade, investment and profit, if we can access reforms to strengthen the international financial architecture. We need urgent action to promote debt relief – not as an act of charity but as a clear path to the peace and prosperity that benefits us all. The African Continental Free Trade Area is a remarkable achievement of co-operation. We remain fully committed to the achievement of SDGs – and are convinced this can be best delivered by focusing principally on our primary mission of socio-political growth and shared economic prosperity.”
He stressed that Nigeria welcomes steps that will improve peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), stating that: “We agree that international investment and engagement offer a way out of the cycle of decay and violence. Access to strategic minerals, Sierra Leone in the 1990s and Sudan today, has for too long been a source of conflict rather than prosperity. “Africa has in abundance the critical minerals that will drive the technologies of the future. Investment in exploration, development and processing of these minerals, in Africa, will diversify supply to the international market, reduce tensions between major economies and help shape the architecture for peace and economic emancipation, on a continent that too often in the past has been left behind by the rivalries and competition between different blocs.
He advised that: Let’s lstrive for a world where the freedom, dignity and worth of every person are upheld, and no one is left behind. I join you today to reassert that Nigeria’s commitment to peace, to development, to unity, to multilateralism, and to the defence of human rights is beyond compromise, for none of us is safe until all of us are safe. Let’s seize this opportunity to build a better UN, one that will be more inclusive, responsive, and effective in promoting global peace, security and prosperity for all of us and the generation yet to come.”
The Permanent Secretary also warned that the “anniversary of the UN must not be a sentimental retreat into nostalgia. It must be a moment of truth, an opportunity to examine where we have stumbled and how we could have done better in turning our values into action that meet the demands of today.
“The United Nations will discover its true relevance only when it sees the world as it is, not as it was.”
On his part, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall commended the achievements of the body in the last 80 years.
He said: “Eighty years ago, a world broken by war chose peace over pain, dialogue over division, and humanity over hope. That choice gave birth to the United Nations, a home of all nations, a voice for the voiceless, a bridge across difference. And also a promise to future generations that peace is possible when we all work together.”
He urged all member countries to be intentional in building the future together in line with the theme of the 80th celebration “building our future together.”
He said it is more than a slogan, “It is a call to action. Our future will not be built by chance. It will be built by choice.”
He noted that the future is alive in Nigeria, especially with the roles the country has been playing globally.
He said: “Here in Nigeria, that future is alive. The land of promises, courage, creativity, show that unity can be achieved. Since 1960, Nigeria has been a pillar of multilateralism, a steadfast voice for peace, a leader in the African continent, and a partner to the world.”
He added” We need to rise together or we will fall together. So today, I make an appeal to the member states, to the government of Nigeria, to development partners, to young people, and to everyone. Let us believe in the power of the world that defined the chapter with the purpose of the United Nations.
“Those historic words that opened the chapter remind us that the UN belongs to all of us. Let us support the United Nations. Let us make multilateralism work for the many, not only for a few.
“Let’s make sure multilateralism works for peace, that it works for the planet, that it works for people, that it works for prosperity for the generations yet to come. “As we build our shared future, may we remember the UN remains a hope for those who have no hope at all, the bridge between despair and possibility, and as we look to the next 80 years, let us remember the words of the former Secretary-General, Baye Kamashole, the UN was not created to take us to heaven, but to deliver us from hell and of God. May this world remind us why we are here.
“May it remind us that we cannot escape our problems of today, but we can solve them if we work together.”
Nigeria Reiterates Support for Two-State Solution, Insists It’s Key to Ending Israeli-Palestinian Perennial Crisis
NESREA Shuts Sunseed Oil Facility in Zaria Over Air Pollution Violations
By: Michael Mike
The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has ordered the closure of the Sunseed Oil processing plant in Zaria, Kaduna State, following findings of severe air pollution linked to the facility’s operations.
NESREA said the action was taken after investigations confirmed that the plant was emitting harmful pollutants into the atmosphere in breach of the National Environmental (Air Quality Control) Regulations.
The regulations require industries to install effective pollution control systems and adopt cleaner production methods to minimize environmental and health risks.
A statement by the agency’s spokesperson, Nwamaka Ejiofor on Tuesday, said the level of emissions from the Sunseed Oil facility posed a direct threat to the surrounding environment and residents in nearby communities, prompting immediate intervention to halt further damage.
She noted that the enforcement exercise reflects the agency’s resolve to ensure that industrial operators comply with environmental standards and to protect the public from the dangers associated with uncontrolled industrial emissions and effluents.
Commenting on the development, the Director-General of NESREA, Prof. Innocent Barikor, warned companies operating across the country to adhere strictly to national environmental laws.
He stressed that the agency would continue to take decisive action against facilities whose operations endanger public health or degrade the environment.
NESREA reiterated its commitment to regular monitoring and enforcement, noting that environmental protection remains a critical component of sustainable development in Nigeria.
NESREA Shuts Sunseed Oil Facility in Zaria Over Air Pollution Violations
Atiyaye unveils a book on the history of Kukar-Gadu
By: Yahaya Wakili
Millions of naira were realized at the Unveiling Potentials of Kukar-Gadu, Launching of History of Kukar-Gadu Book, Presentation of Kukar-Gadu Physical Development Plan, and Commissioning of Kukar-Gadu Empowerment Development Initiative at Kukar-Gadu town of Yobe state.
In his keynote address, the Chairman of the Kukar-Gadu Empowerment Development Initiative (KEDI), TPI, Barnabas Atiyaye, said the Kukar-Gadu Empowerment Development Initiative was triggered by Victim Support Funds’ (VSF) proactive intervention activities chaired by Gen. T. Y. Danjuma from inception to its closure in 2024.
He said through KEDI, we aim to create opportunities where there was once struggle to restore hope, where there was once despair, and to build bridges where there was once division. We are resolved to work for a Kukar-Gadu that is empowered, self-reliant, forward-looking, and united. We desire to be a springboard for the development of not only the Kukar-Gadu or Fika local government area, but the entire Yobe state and, by extension, the nation.
Mr. Barnabas revealed that the master plan of Kukar-Gadu is more than a technical document; it is a covenant with the future, a clear roadmap that defines how we as a community shall shape the physical, social, and economic destiny of our community, and it will also provide guidance for infrastructure, housing, agriculture, education, commerce, and environmental sustainability.
“The history of Kukar-Gadu” is more than a collection of dates and events. It is the story of our fathers, their struggles, their courage, their triumphs, and their faith. It tells of the foundations upon which we now stand, and in commissioning this book, we are not only honoring our past, we are preserving it for generations yet unborn.
Atiyaye appeals to individuals, schools, libraries, and government institutions to obtain copies of this book; it serves as a source of knowledge and inspiration for our youth so that they may know their roots and carry our values forward with pride. We pray that this book will keep alive the spirit of unity, courage, and progress that defines Kukar-Gadu. Ameen.
Speaking, the Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Ali Adamu Tikau (Talban Tikau), ably represented by Professor Dauda Abubakar, said that to have the Emir of Fika, along with the Emir of Pataskum, along with representatives of His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni, CON, COMN, the representative of the Senator of the National Assembly, and many other personalities to come to this village in the Fika local government area, I will say that we are so excited and very proud of what is happening today.
He said the launching of the history of Kukar-Gadu is also a milestone at the program, and it is one of the highlights. It was a book written by Malam Ibrahim Sara Bangalu, who is also a son of Kukar-Gadu, and I had the opportunity of editing the book and making the necessary corrections before it was taken to press. It is a history that will help us reflect on who we are as a people. When a people do not know their history, when a people do not know where they come from, they will easily get lost. That is the purpose of launching.
“I would say that Kukar-Gadu, Goya district, Fika local government, and Gudi are places that are very special because of the type of educated people they have produced. I am a product of this community, and I am a living testament to the opportunities this community gave me, and I believe many are benefiting from it.
Also speaking, the district head of Goya, Alhaji Musa Garba Daya, said what the people of Kukar-Gadu did has become a big challenge to all the people of Goya district; they broke the record and urged the people to wake up to create something for the betterment of the people.
“If you observe, they print a master plan of Kukar-Gadu and focus on many years ahead. So this initiative—I am so impressed with it because it will help for the fiscal planning of the area for over ten years, as Alhaji Musa Garba Daya said.
According to him, the people of Kukar-Gadu are also commissioning the Empowerment Development Initiative, which was triggered by Victim Support Funds (VSF), chaired by Gen. T. Y. Danjuma, and I appreciate it so much because these will greatly assist both our youth and women of the area.
Atiyaye unveils a book on the history of Kukar-Gadu
ActionAid Nigeria Warns of Rising Debt, Weak Social Spending in 2026 Budget Proposal
By: Michael Mike
ActionAid Nigeria has raised serious concerns over the Federal Government’s proposed 2026 Appropriation Bill, warning that the budget could worsen Nigeria’s debt burden and further sideline key social sectors critical to poverty reduction and inclusive growth.
In its review of the ₦58.18 trillion budget proposal, the organisation said the 5.8 per cent increase over the 2025 approved budget does not sufficiently address long-standing fiscal and structural challenges. Instead, it noted that the financing plan, size of the deficit, and sectoral priorities pose risks to fiscal sustainability and accountability.
ActionAid Nigeria expressed particular concern over the continued extension of budget implementation timelines, which has resulted in the 2026 budget running alongside extended 2024 and 2025 budgets. According to the organisation, operating multiple budgets simultaneously weakens transparency, limits effective legislative oversight, and increases the risk of mismanagement of public funds, especially for capital and social sector projects.
The group, in a statement on Tuesday by its Country Director, Dr. Andrew Mamedu, also pointed to repeated post-submission changes by the National Assembly, including upward adjustments to allocations without secured funding sources, as a key factor contributing to funding gaps, delayed releases, and the rollover of projects across fiscal years.
On the fiscal outlook, ActionAid Nigeria highlighted that the proposed 2026 budget projects revenue of ₦34.33 trillion against total spending of ₦58.18 trillion, leaving a deficit of ₦23.85 trillion. It described the figure as the largest deficit in Nigeria’s history, representing sharp increases over the 2024 and 2025 deficits.
It warned that heavy reliance on borrowing, without strong investment in productive and social sectors, could deepen inequality and constrain long-term development.
ActionAid Nigeria said that despite government claims that education, health, agriculture, infrastructure, and security are priority areas, lamented that allocations to social sectors remain inadequate.
Mamedu, in the statement, noted that education allocated ₦3.52 trillion, about six per cent of the total budget, and health receiving ₦2.48 trillion, just over four per cent—are both far below international benchmarks, and in contrast with defence allotted spending standing at ₦5.41 trillion.
The organisation also faulted the budget for failing to address underemployment and poor-quality jobs, particularly among women and rural populations, noting insufficient investment in agriculture, rural infrastructure, and women-led enterprises. It further warned that weak funding for social protection programmes could worsen hardship for millions of Nigerians facing rising living costs.
ActionAid Nigeria also criticised the late submission of the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, Fiscal Strategy Paper, and the 2026 Appropriation Bill, describing it as a breach of the Fiscal Responsibility Act.
The organisation urged the Federal Government and the National Assembly to end the practice of running multiple budgets, strengthen fiscal discipline, reduce dependence on borrowing, and significantly increase funding for education, health, agriculture, and social protection.
It stressed that Nigeria cannot overcome poverty through debt-driven spending, but through a people-centred and accountable budget that prioritises human development.
ActionAid Nigeria Warns of Rising Debt, Weak Social Spending in 2026 Budget Proposal
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