Nigeria assumes membership of UN Security Council

Nigeria assumes membership of UN
Security Council
on january 03, 2014 at 11:12 am in news
United Nations – Nigeria on Thursday formally
assumed the membership of the UN Security
Council for a two-year term (2014-2015), making it
the fifth time the nation had been elected into the
council.
The nation’s term for the non-permanent seat of the
council began on Jan. 1, but due to the New Year
holiday, the council could not sit.
Nigeria was on Oct. 16, 2012 elected into the world
body with 186 votes out of 193.
UN Council has five permanent members
comprising China, France, Russian Federation, the
United Kingdom and the U.S. as well as 10 other
non-permanent members which are elected for two
years by the 193 members of the UN General
Assembly.
Earlier, following the admission of Nigeria into the
council, Prof. Joy Ogwu, Nigeria’s Permanent
Representative to the UN, had assured that Nigeria
would promote preventive diplomacy for peace as a
fulcrum of its agenda.
The permanent representative also noted that
Nigeria was driven by a deep seated aspiration to
deal with issues of peace, security and development
not only in Africa but the rest of the world.
“So to this effect, we will work assiduously with all
members of the security council to represent all
other member states and to fulfil the renewed
mandate that we have received today,’’ Ogwu said.
The Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola
Onwuliri, had assured the international community
that Nigeria would continue to work in the area of
preventive diplomacy.
Onwuliri also said that Nigeria would focus on
mediation and prevention of conflict situations in
Africa.
“We need to have a strong voice to help the UN to
deal with issues in Africa. African issues are the
majority of issues facing the UN Security Council
today,’’ she said.
Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein, Permanent
Representative of Jordan to the UN, is the President
of the Security Council for the month of January.
(NAN)