Nigeria to address UNGA on Thursday

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Vice President Kashim Shettima

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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.

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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 Sept. 24.

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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.

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

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

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

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

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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.

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

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

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

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

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

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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.

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

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

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

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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.

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

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

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

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