Nigeria to Speak at UN General Assembly on Thursday

Nigeria will speak at the UN General Assembly on Thursday afternoon. Vice President Kashim Shettima will present the country's national statement for the third year in a row.

An updated list of speakers shows Nigeria is fourth in the afternoon session of the General Debate on 24 September. This session is one of the key events during the UN high-level week.

The afternoon session starts at 3 p.m. New York time and will last until 9 p.m. Mr Shettima is expected to speak between 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. This is 9 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Nigerian time.

President Bola Tinubu was supposed to speak as the eighth speaker on Wednesday morning. He moved up two spots from the previous 10th position.

UN rules say that presidents can speak at the high-level General Debate before vice presidents, prime ministers, and ministers. NAN reports that Mr Tinubu directed Mr Shettima on Sunday to lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Mr Shettima will join 73 Heads of State, 45 Heads of Government, 49 ministers, 11 vice-presidents, and one crown prince for the high-level week of the General Assembly.

Stanley Nkwocha, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, said Mr Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement. He will also explain the country’s positions on important international issues.

This Thursday will be the third UN General Assembly where Mr Shettima represents Mr Tinubu in the General Debate. He stood in for the president at the 79th Session in 2024 and again at the 80th Session in 2025.

Mr Tinubu spoke personally at the 78th Session of the General Assembly in September 2023, a few months after becoming president. Now, with this announcement, Mr Shettima has represented the president at the UN General Assembly three times in a row: 2024, 2025, and 2026.

The presidency said the vice president will lead a high-level delegation. This group includes Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal, ministers, and other senior officials.

Besides the national statement, Mr Shettima will take part in high-level meetings on issues that are important to Nigeria and Africa. He will also hold bilateral meetings with foreign leaders, international organisations, and development partners during the Assembly.

The 81st UN General Debate starts on Tuesday, 22 September, and runs until Saturday, ending on Monday, 28 September. The annual debate gives Heads of State and Government a chance to share their national priorities with the world.

The theme for the 81st Session is "Restoring trust, managing transformation: a United Nations that delivers for all." Khalilur Rahman from Bangladesh is the President of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly.

The General Assembly includes all 193 UN Member States, each having equal representation in the main decision-making body.