Nigeria to address UNGA on Thursday

Nigeria will address the UN General Assembly on Thursday afternoon, with Vice President Kashim Shettima delivering the country’s national statement for the third consecutive year.

An updated provisional speakers’ schedule obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) places Nigeria fourth in the afternoon session of the General Debate on 24 September.

Nigeria’s Thursday slot places its statement on the third day of the General Debate, traditionally one of the most closely watched events of UN high-level week.

The afternoon session begins at 3 p.m. New York time and runs until 9 p.m., while Mr Shettima is expected to speak between 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. (9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Nigerian time).

President Bola Tinubu was initially scheduled to be the eighth speaker on Wednesday morning, having moved up two spots from the previous 10th spot.

UN protocol allows presidents to speak at the high-level General Debate before vice presidents, prime ministers and ministers.

NAN reports that Mr Tinubu, on Sunday, directed Mr Shettima to, again, lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Mr Shettima joins 73 Heads of State, 45 Heads of Government, 49 ministers, 11 vice-presidents and one crown prince for the 81st General Assembly high-level week.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice-President, Stanley Nkwocha, said Mr Shettima would deliver Nigeria’s national statement and outline the country’s positions on major international issues.

Thursday’s appearance will mark the third successive UN General Assembly at which Mr Shettima will represent Mr Tinubu in the General Debate.

Mr Shettima represented the president at the 79th Session in 2024 and again delivered Nigeria’s statement at the 80th Session in 2025.

Mr Tinubu personally addressed the 78th Session of the General Assembly in September 2023, months after assuming office as president.

With the latest announcement, Mr Shettima has represented the president at the annual gathering of world leaders in 2024, 2025 and now 2026.

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

In addition to the national statement, Mr Shettima is expected to participate in high-level meetings on issues considered strategically important to Nigeria and Africa.

READ ALSO: Shettima arrives at 81st UNGA, says Nigeria will be guided By national interest

The vice president will hold bilateral meetings with foreign leaders, international organisations and development partners on the sidelines of the Assembly.

The 81st UN General Debate opens on Tuesday, 22 September and continues through Saturday before concluding on Monday, 28 September.

The UN’s annual debate provides Heads of State, Heads of Government and other senior representatives an opportunity to outline national priorities before the international community.

The theme of the 81st Session is “Restoring trust, managing transformation: a United Nations that delivers for all.”

The session is being presided over by Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh, President of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly.

The General Assembly brings together all 193 UN Member States, each with equal representation in the organisation’s principal deliberative and policymaking body.