- Odibo Victory
Nigeria has assumed the chairmanship of the United Nations Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations (C-34), strengthening its role in shaping global peacekeeping policies and operations.
Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Amb. Jimoh Ibrahim, took over the position from Canada’s Permanent Representative, Amb. David Lametti.
Speaking after the handover, Ibrahim outlined priorities focused on making UN peacekeeping more practical, accountable and responsive to challenges in conflict zones.
He said Nigeria would work to bridge the gap between policies developed at the UN Headquarters and the realities faced by peacekeepers, host communities and civilians on the ground.
“We just took over the UN Peacekeeping Committee from Canada. Nigeria is fully back,” Ibrahim said.
He identified the need to close the gap between policy formulation and implementation as one of Nigeria’s key priorities.
“We must ensure that the gap between policy and practice is closed,” he said.
“This leadership gives us another opportunity to contribute meaningfully to strengthening multilateralism, improving peacekeeping and ensuring that the United Nations delivers practical results.”
The new role adds to Nigeria’s growing responsibilities within the UN system, as Ibrahim also chairs the General Assembly’s Fifth Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Matters.
He said Nigeria would use its positions to promote accountability, effective multilateralism and stronger links between resources, policies and measurable results.
Ibrahim said Nigeria would collaborate with Canada, members of the C-34 Bureau, troop- and police-contributing countries, financial contributors, the UN Secretariat and host countries ahead of the committee’s 2027 substantive session.
He said Nigeria’s leadership would focus on effective peacekeeping, civilian protection, field-informed policies, financial responsibility, respect for the UN Charter and greater accountability.
The C-34 brings together countries involved in UN peacekeeping, including troop- and police-contributing nations, major financial contributors, Security Council members and countries hosting peacekeeping missions.
Ibrahim also called for greater involvement of senior military officials in the committee’s deliberations, particularly during the February-to-March 2027 session.
He urged Chiefs of Army Staff and other senior military authorities from participating countries to take part more directly in C-34 discussions.
On civilian protection, the Nigerian envoy said it would remain central to the country’s peacekeeping agenda.
He stressed that peacekeeping and counter-terrorism operations must protect the rights and safety of civilians in conflict areas.
“Counter-terrorism operations must respect the right of civilians to exist and their right to protection,” he said.
Ibrahim said civilian protection and the fight against terrorism should not be viewed as opposing goals.
“Security operations become more credible when innocent civilians are protected and when international law and human dignity remain central to the response,” he said.
Lametti expressed Canada’s readiness to work with Nigeria under the new leadership, particularly on peacekeeping financing and engagement with operations in the field.
He welcomed discussions on payment and financial responsibility, which Ibrahim identified as areas requiring greater attention.
The Canadian envoy also backed increased interaction between C-34 members and peacekeeping missions, saying Canada would support field visits to give delegates firsthand knowledge of the challenges facing missions, peacekeepers and host communities.