Tinubu Urges UN to Prioritize Debt Forgiveness for Nigeria, Developing Nations

President Bola Tinubu has called on the United Nations to prioritize debt forgiveness for Nigeria and other developing countries, urging creditors and multilateral financial institutions to provide relief. Tinubu’s appeal was made during the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, where he was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

The President emphasized the need for comprehensive reforms of the international financial system to include debt relief measures, arguing that developing nations in the global South cannot achieve meaningful economic growth without significant concessions and a reassessment of their debt burdens.

Tinubu also addressed the importance of recovering proceeds from corruption and illicit financial flows, stressing that the return of such funds to their countries of origin is a core principle of the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

On the issue of insecurity, Tinubu highlighted how the growing threat of terrorism and insurgency has caused widespread hardship and eroded public confidence in democracy. He called on the international community to work together to restore faith in democratic governance and constitutional order.

The President reassured the assembly that the High-Level African Counter-Terrorism Meeting, hosted by Nigeria in April 2024, and its outcome, “The Abuja Declaration,” would offer solutions to combat the challenges posed by terrorists and insurgents across the region.