National interest tops Nigeria’s UNGA agenda – Shettima

Vice President Kashim Shettima has said Nigeria’s engagements at the 81st United Nations General Assembly will be guided by the country’s national interest and commitment to multilateralism.

The session, which opened on September 8, will enter its High-Level Week and General Debate from September 22 to September 28, 2026, at the United Nations headquarters in New York, United States, under the theme of restoring trust and managing transformation.

Shettima on Monday, who arrived in New York to represent President Bola Tinubu and lead Nigeria’s delegation to the global gathering, said the country would use the platform to advance its interests while strengthening cooperation with other nations.

According to the Vice President, Nigeria’s participation would also reflect the administration’s position that global institutions must be reformed to better reflect contemporary economic and demographic realities.

He said Nigeria remained committed to multilateralism, but stressed that international institutions must become more representative, equitable and responsive to the changing realities of the global community.

“Our message in New York is clear: Nigeria believes in multilateralism, but the institutions that govern our world must become more representative, equitable and responsive to the realities of today,” Shettima said.

He added that Nigeria would engage its international partners from the standpoint of its national interest while advancing President Tinubu’s call for reforms that would give developing countries a stronger voice in global affairs.

“We will engage our partners firmly from the standpoint of Nigeria’s national interest, while advancing President Tinubu’s call for a global system that gives developing countries a stronger voice and a fairer opportunity to prosper,” he said.

The Vice President’s position places Nigeria’s participation at the UNGA around two key objectives: protecting and advancing the country’s interests while supporting reforms to the international system that would provide developing countries with greater representation and opportunities.

Through its engagements at the assembly, Nigeria is expected to interact with other governments and international institutions on issues of mutual interest, while also pushing its position on the need for a more inclusive global decision-making system.