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FULL SPEECH: Buhari addresses world leaders at UN general assembly

Published

4 years ago

September 21, 2022

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday delivered a speech at United Nations General Assembly (UNGA77).

He spoke on climate change, the Russia-Ukraine war and the need for credible elections, calling on world leaders to remain committed towards ensuring sustainable development.

Below is the full speech.

Mr. President,

Heads of State and Government,

Mr. Secretary-General,

Distinguished delegates,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Mr. President,

On behalf of the Government and people of Nigeria, I congratulate you on your well-deserved election as President of the 77th Session of this August Assembly. I assure you of the full support and cooperation of the Nigerian delegation during your tenure.

I commend your predecessor, H.E. Abdullah Shahid, for the many remarkable achievements of the General Assembly under his leadership during these challenging times.

May I also congratulate the Secretary-General, Mr. Antonio Guterres on his ceaseless and untiring efforts to promote peace, security and development, very much in line with his exalted role.

Mr. President, the first time I could have addressed this August Assembly was in 1984, when I was the Military Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Thirty-one years later, I had the great privilege to personally address the Assembly in 2015, as the democratically elected President of my country. As I approach the end of my second and final four-year term, I am reminded of how much has changed in Nigeria, in Africa, and in the world, and yet, how some challenges remain.

We are now more severely tested by these enduring and new global challenges, paramount among which are conflicts increasingly being driven by non-state actors, proliferation of small arms and light weapons, terrorism, violent extremism, malignant use of technology, climate change, irregular migration, and disparities in opportunities for improved standards of living.

Despite the challenging international environment, the United Nations has proved that it can be strong when the will of its members is harnessed for positive collective action. The guiding principles of this extraordinary institution is the promotion of peace and security, development and human rights. Latest in a chain of events challenging these principles is the Ukraine conflict which has already created strains that are perhaps unprecedented for a generation.

Such a conflict will have adverse consequences for us all, hindering our capacity to work together to resolve conflicts elsewhere, especially in Africa, the Middle-East and Asia. Indeed, the ongoing war in Ukraine is making it more difficult to tackle the perennial issues that feature each year in the deliberations of this Assembly, such as nuclear disarmament, the right of the Rohingya refugees to return to their homes in Myanmar, and the Palestinians’ legitimate aspirations for statehood and reduction of inequalities within and amongst nations.

The danger of escalation of the war in Ukraine further justifies Nigeria’s resolute calls for a nuclear-free world and a universal Arms Trade Treaty, which are also necessary measures to prevent global human disasters. In this regards we must find quick means to reach consensus on the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty with related commitments by nuclear weapon states.

I remain firmly convinced that the challenges that have come so sharply into focus in recent years and months emphasise the call by Nigeria and many other Member-States for the reform of the Security Council and other UN Agencies. We need more effective and representative structures to meet today’s demands that have since outgrown a system designed for the very different world that prevailed at its foundation in 1945. Change is long overdue.

Mr. President, this is the first meeting we are having here in New York without the restrictions that characterised the last three years. The COVID-19 pandemic ripped across national borders like a toxic whirlwind, leaving in its wake a legacy of pain and loss.

Happily, we also witnessed an incredible level of innovation and creativity from those who devised treatments and vaccines. These laudable achievements were underpinned by partnerships and international cooperation. We have also seen the bravery, care, and endurance of health professionals at every corner of the globe.

I am happy to note that in Nigeria, our healthcare agencies were able to form effective local management and engaged international partnerships with multinational initiatives like COVAX and private groups like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. These efforts helped mitigate the impact of the pandemic and we were mercifully spared the images of overwhelmed hospitals, overworked healthcare personnel and high mortality which sadly we saw elsewhere.

With COVID-19, we saw very clearly how states tried to meet the challenge of a threat that could not be contained within national borders. The results were mixed; but at its best, cooperation among stakeholders was outstanding. It facilitated solutions that saved countless lives and eased the huge burden of human suffering.

That same theme of unilateralism and the promotion of national interest competing with the common cause in the face of an existential threat has been our recurring experience in recent times. In every address I have delivered to this august Assembly, I have dwelt on the issue of climate change, especially as it fuels conflicts and complicates food security.

Climate change reduces opportunity and prosperity which, in Africa, Latin America and some parts of Asia also contribute to transnational organised crimes.

As part of Nigeria’s efforts at achieving our Global Net-zero aspiration, the current Administration last year adopted a National Climate Change Strategy that aims to deliver climate change mitigation in a sustainable manner.

The measures we took at the national level also require climate justice. Africa and other developing nations produce only a small proportion of greenhouse gas emissions, compared to industrial economies. Yet, we are the hardest hit by the consequences of climate change as we see in the sustained droughts in Somalia and floods of unprecedented severity in Pakistan.

These and other climate-related occurrences are now sadly becoming widely commonplace in the developing world. We are, in effect, literally paying the price for policies that others pursue. This needs to change.

At the COP26 in Glasgow last year, I did say that Nigeria was not asking for permission to make the same mistakes that others have made in creating the climate emergency.

Fortunately, we now know what we can do to mitigate the effects of the climate crisis and the related energy challenge. As a first step, we must all commit to releasing the financing and the technology to create a stable and affordable framework for energy transition.

Development Financial Institutions must prioritise de-risking energy projects to improve access of renewable projects to credit facilities. There should be no countries “left behind” in this equation.

Rocketing energy costs worldwide are, in part, the product of conflict and supply disruptions to Europe and the Americas. Yet, we are all paying the price. It is, therefore, our expectation that this UNGA 77 and the upcoming COP27 will help galvanise the political will required to drive action towards the fulfilment of the various existing climate change initiatives.

Another feature of the last decade has been the growing partnership between states and the increasingly influential non-state actors. There was a time when the most important event at this Assembly was the speech by the world’s most powerful leaders. Now a Tweet or Instagram post by an influencer on social or environmental issues may have greater impact.

Technology offers us nearly limitless opportunities and sometimes runs ahead of the imagination of regulators and legislators. At its best, social media helps strengthen the foundations of our society and our common values. At its worst, it is a corrosive digital version of the mob, bristling with intolerance and division.

When I began my tenure as President in 2015, distinctions were drawn between the experience of poorer countries and those apparently better able to manage the avalanche of unfiltered information. Nigeria has had many unsavoury experiences with hate speech and divisive disinformation. Increasingly, we also see that many countries face the same challenge. Clearly, data also know no borders.

In confronting these challenges, we must also come together to defend freedom of speech, while upholding other values that we cherish. We must continue to work for a common standard that balances rights with responsibilities to keep the most vulnerable from harm and help strengthen and enrich communities.

Efforts to protect communities from the scourge of disinformation and misinformation must also be matched with efforts to reduce inequalities and restore hope to our poorer and most vulnerable of our communities as a means to stem the many socio-economic conflict drivers with which we are faced.

In spite of our efforts, humanitarian crises will continue to ravage some of our communities. Nigeria, therefore, implores our global partners to do more to complement our endeavours.

Indeed, the multifaceted challenges facing most developing countries have placed a debilitating chokehold on their fiscal space. This equally calls for the need to address the burden of unsustainable external debt by a global commitment to the expansion and extension of the Debt Service Suspension Initiative to countries facing fiscal and liquidity challenges as well as outright cancellation for countries facing the most severe challenges.

Mr. President, Your Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,

Democracy is an idea that crosses time and borders. Certainly, democracy does have its limitations. The wheels of democracy turn slowly. It can demand compromises that dilute decisions. Sometimes, it bends too much to special interests that exercise influence, not always for the general good, in a manner disproportionate to their numbers. But it has been my experience that a democratic culture provides a Government with the legitimacy it needs to deliver positive change.

In Nigeria, not only have we worked to strengthen our democracy, but we have supported it and promoted the Rule of Law in our sub-region. In The Gambia, we helped guarantee the first democratic transition since independence. In Guinea-Bissau we stood by the democratically elected Government when it faced mutiny. And in the Republic of Chad, following the tragic death of its President, the late Idris Deby Itno in the battle field, we joined forces with its other neighbours and international partners to stabilise the country and encourage the peaceful transition to democracy, a process which is ongoing.

We believe in the sanctity of constitutional term limits and we have steadfastly adhered to it in Nigeria. We have seen the corrosive impact on values when leaders elsewhere seek to change the rules to stay on in power. Indeed, we now are preparing for general elections in Nigeria next February. At the 78th UNGA, there will be a new face at this podium speaking for Nigeria.

Ours is a vast country strengthened by its diversity and its common values of hard work, enduring faith and a sense of community. We have invested heavily to strengthen our framework for free and fair elections. I thank our partners for all the support that they have provided our election institutions.

As President, I have set the goal that one of the enduring legacies I would like to leave is to entrench a process of free, fair and transparent and credible elections through which Nigerians elect leaders of their choice.

Mr. President,

The multiple challenges that face us are truly interconnected and urgent, and your choice of this Session’s theme, “A watershed moment: Transformative solutions to interlocking challenges”, is apt. In keeping with our obligations as Member States of this noble Organisation, we all must do our utmost to work with you toward resolving them. In this regard, I reiterate my Delegation’s full and resolute cooperation.

Let me convey my final reflection from this famous podium. We live in extraordinary times with interdependent challenges but enormous opportunities. The pace of change can seem bewildering, with sometimes a palpable and unsettling sense of uncertainty about our future. But if my years in public service have taught me anything, it is that we must keep faith with those values that endure. These include, but are not limited to such values as justice, honour, integrity, ceaseless endeavour, and partnership within and between nations.

Our strongest moments have always been when we remain true to the basic principles of tolerance, community, and abiding commitment to peace and goodwill towards all.

I thank you all.

News

Shot by Bandits, Saved by Soldiers: Dramatic Rescue of General’s Wife in Katsina

Published

4 hours ago

June 16, 2026

Trends Admin

Shot by Bandits, Saved by Soldiers: Dramatic Rescue of General’s Wife in Katsina

Nigerian Army troops have rescued the wife of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, a former Director of Defence Information, following a fierce gun battle with armed bandits in Katsina State.

The dramatic rescue came days after the woman was abducted by gunmen in Matazu Local Government Area, one of several communities in Katsina that have come under repeated attacks by bandits involved in kidnapping, cattle rustling and other violent crimes.

The operation, conducted by troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA under the military’s ongoing Operation CLEAN SWEEP III, was launched after intelligence reports pinpointed the movement of the kidnappers and their victim.

Security analyst Zagazola Makama disclosed the development in a report posted on his verified X account on Monday night, citing military sources.

According to the sources, troops tracked the kidnappers to Tunga village, where they engaged the criminals during a search-and-rescue mission. Overwhelmed by the military offensive, the bandits reportedly fled the area, abandoning their captive.

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“The bandits shot her and fled when we made contact at Tunga village. We have rescued Mrs. Abubakar. She is bleeding. We have given her first aid and are moving her for urgent medical attention,” a military source was quoted as saying.

Although injured during the encounter, Mrs. Abubakar was stabilised by military personnel and evacuated for urgent medical treatment.

The rescue is being viewed as a significant breakthrough in the fight against banditry in the North-West, particularly in Katsina State, which has remained one of the epicentres of the security crisis despite sustained military operations.

Maj.-Gen. Abubakar, who served as Director of Defence Information between 2015 and 2018, was the military’s chief spokesman during some of Nigeria’s most challenging security operations. His wife’s abduction had heightened concerns about the growing audacity of criminal gangs operating across the region.

In recent months, troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA have intensified offensives against bandit enclaves in Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and parts of Kebbi States, leading to the rescue of several kidnapped victims and the neutralisation of scores of armed criminals.

Military authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the latest operation, but security sources described the rescue as a major success in ongoing efforts to restore security across the North-West.

Shot by Bandits, Saved by Soldiers: Dramatic Rescue of General’s Wife in Katsina

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DHQ Launches Fresh Offensive in Katsina to Hunt Killers of Retired General Rabe

Published

1 day ago

June 15, 2026

Trends Admin

Nigeria Military Troops

DHQ Launches Fresh Offensive in Katsina to Hunt Killers of Retired General Rabe

KATSINA, Nigeria — The Defence Headquarters Joint Task Force North West has launched a fresh military offensive code-named Operation Clean Sweep III in Katsina State, aimed at hunting down and eliminating the bandits and terrorists responsible for the abduction and subsequent death in captivity of the former Defence Spokesperson, retired Major General Rabe Abubakar.

A statement released on Monday by Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force (North West) under Operation Fansan Yamma, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, said the offensive, which kicked off on Sunday, June 14, 2026, focuses on the Matazu Local Government Area and adjoining communities where the criminal networks operate. The operation was launched in direct response to the incident that led to the retired general’s death, with the military stating that the offensive is aimed at locating and neutralizing the perpetrators of the “heinous act,” dismantling criminal networks, and restoring security within the affected communities.

General Rabe and his wife, Hajiya Amina Abubakar, were abducted by suspected terrorists on May 30, 2026, along the Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli Road in Matazu LGA. The retired general was traveling with his driver and wife to Katsina for a wedding ceremony when the terrorists emerged near a village called Zakin Baure, blocked the road, and opened fire on his vehicle, a red-coloured Peugeot 406 car. The driver escaped with gunshot injuries and was later admitted to a hospital.

While the retired general died while being held in the kidnappers’ den and was buried on June 13, his wife is believed to still remain in the hands of the captors. The late senior military officer was laid to rest on Sunday at about 6:00 p.m. at the Gidan Dawa Cemetery, located opposite his residence in Katsina metropolis, following funeral prayers attended by a large crowd of mourners.

The military confirmed that troops have already recorded notable successes since the operations commenced. To crush the criminal syndicates, fighting patrols, intelligence-led raids, cordon-and-search operations, and thorough clearance missions have been deployed across all suspected terrorist enclaves within the Joint Operations Area.

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The Defence Headquarters revealed that breakthroughs have already been achieved in the Dikkawa Hills general area, as well as surrounding communities including Adua, Nasarawa, and Karaduwa. During these intensive operations, troops successfully searched and combed several criminal enclaves, discovering and completely destroying the terrorists’ life-support structures, operational logistics bases, and camps. The JTF emphasized that the destruction of these hubs has severely degraded the criminals’ ability to launch attacks or operate freely within Katsina State.

The military said the offensive is being conducted in collaboration with sister services, other security agencies, and local stakeholders, whose support has contributed to ongoing efforts to improve security in the state. The Theatre Command reassured residents of Matazu and surrounding communities of its commitment to protecting law-abiding citizens and denying terrorists and bandits freedom of movement within the region.

The Theatre Command also urged members of the public to continue providing credible and timely information that could assist security agencies in tracking and apprehending criminal elements, assuring that all information received would be treated confidentially. The command added that troops would sustain pressure on terrorists and bandits until the objectives of Operation Clean Sweep III are fully achieved, with further updates to be provided as the operation progresses.

General Rabe, who served as the Director of Defence Information at Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters between 2015 and 2017, had a high-profile role as military spokesman. The military paid tribute to the major general, describing the loss as “tragic” and noting that he made “immense contributions to counter-insurgency operations.” According to local media reports, he was 61 when he died.

The abduction and death of Abubakar highlight the continuing security challenges facing parts of north-west Nigeria, where criminal gangs known locally as “bandits” frequently carry out kidnappings for ransom, as well as cattle rustling and attacks on rural communities. Katsina has been one of the states most affected by the violence.

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Some local government areas in Katsina, including Jibia, Batsari, Kurfi, Safana, Danmusa, Matazu, Musawa, Kankara, Faskari, Malumfashi, and Bakori, had previously agreed to establish peace accords with terrorists in their areas. However, while some of these areas have seen relative calm, the situation in Matazu, Bakori, Musawa, Kankia, and Malumfashi has only deteriorated. The Marabar Musawa–Musawa–Matazu–Kafin Soli road where the general was abducted became volatile after the peace deal broke.

Even before the May 30 abduction, there were several cases of abduction on the road as well as attacks on communities and towns in the area. According to reports, Muhammadu Fulani, the terrorists’ leader in the Matazu-Musawa area, accused the state government of arresting three of his men and seizing his livestock. The abductors had demanded the release of detained bandits and the return of confiscated livestock as conditions for his freedom.

On June 6, the terrorists released a video clip of the couple begging for the government to rescue them. The wife, who spoke, asked the government to facilitate the release of some three terrorists arrested by security agents in exchange for the couple’s freedom. On June 8, the terror group leader, Muhammadu Fulani, said he would not release the wife of the general as promised, after the government dispatched security agents to the area to fight him.

On June 12, a special prayer session was organised at the Sa’ad Bin Abi Waqqas Mosque in Barhim Estate, Katsina city, at 5 p.m. Several relatives and friends attended the prayer session, where the Imam called on the government to ensure the safe return of Rabe, his wife, and all abducted victims. On the morning of June 13, a WhatsApp message began circulating, especially in Katsina, saying the general had died Friday night, June 12.

On Saturday, the Katsina State Government confirmed Abubakar’s death, with Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs Nasiru Mu’azu stating that he “died a natural death from complications of diabetes and hypertension.” However, family members and other sources countered the claim, saying the late major general had no history of diabetes. They maintained that he died after being bitten by a snake while being held captive by the kidnappers.

Speaking in an interview with Deutsche Welle (DW), Isyaku Rabe, the deceased’s son, described the government’s account as inaccurate, insisting that his father had no known history of either diabetes or high blood pressure before his abduction. “Our father was not diabetic or hypertensive,” he said. The family also dismissed reports circulating on social media suggesting that the late general’s wife had regained her freedom. According to Isyaku, his mother remains in captivity, contrary to some sources who claimed she was released alongside her husband’s remains.

Recounting the family’s ordeal, Khadija Rabe Abubakar, the general’s daughter, said they initially believed their parents would be rescued alive. “When we heard the news of our father’s death, we were shocked and heartbroken because we had hoped they would be rescued alive and unharmed, based on assurances from many quarters,” she said. “We buried our father without our mother by our side. That pain is indescribable. Every day she remains in captivity deepens our trauma.”

DHQ Launches Fresh Offensive in Katsina to Hunt Killers of Retired General Rabe

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Grand Imam of Osun Presents New Olori-Ratib of Osogbo to Muslim Congregation

Published

2 days ago

June 14, 2026

Trends Admin

Sheikh Imam Surajudeen Ademola Oloye-Irorun Iyalode, newly appointed Olori-Ratib of Osogbo Land

Grand Imam of Osun Presents New Olori-Ratib of Osogbo to Muslim Congregation

The Grand Imam of Osun State, Sheikh Musa Muhammad Rabi’i Animasaun, has officially announced and presented the newly appointed Olori-Ratib of Osogbo Land, Sheikh Imam Surajudeen Ademola Oloye-Irorun Iyalode, to the Muslim community during a special gathering at the Central Mosque, Oja-Oba, Osogbo.

The announcement, which marked a significant milestone in the religious leadership structure of Osogbo Land, came shortly after the Grand Imam formally introduced the new Olori-Ratib to the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun Abidemi Larooye II, during the monthly prayers of the Muslim community held at the royal palace.

Addressing a large congregation of Muslim faithful at the Central Mosque, Sheikh Animasaun described the new Olori-Ratib as a committed Islamic scholar, seasoned cleric, and a capable leader entrusted with the responsibility of coordinating and overseeing the activities of Ratib Imams across Osogbo Land.

The Grand Imam emphasized that the appointment was made after careful consideration and expressed confidence in the ability of Imam Oloye-Irorun Iyalode to provide spiritual guidance and strengthen the administration of Islamic affairs within the ancient town.

The formal presentation was greeted with enthusiasm and prayers from members of the Muslim community, who welcomed the new religious leader and pledged their support for his administration. The gathering also served as a demonstration of unity among Islamic scholars, clerics, community leaders and worshippers in Osogbo.

Speaking shortly after his presentation, the newly appointed Olori-Ratib expressed profound appreciation to the Grand Imam of Osun State, the Nahibul-Imam, the Grand Mufasir, Ratib Imams, Islamic scholars and members of the Muslim community for the confidence reposed in him.

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He assured the congregation of his commitment to preserving the values and traditions of Islamic leadership while promoting peace, unity and cooperation among Muslims in Osogbo and beyond.

According to him, his administration would focus on strengthening harmony among Islamic groups, advancing religious education and contributing to the overall growth and development of Islam across Osogbo Land and Osun State.

The event was attended by prominent Islamic scholars, clerics, community leaders and worshippers, who offered prayers for divine guidance, wisdom and success for the new Olori-Ratib as he assumes his new responsibilities.

Observers described the occasion as a landmark moment in the history of Islamic leadership in Osogbo, noting that it further reinforced the longstanding relationship between the Muslim community, traditional institutions and religious authorities in the town.

The presentation is expected to usher in a new phase of collaboration among Islamic leaders in Osogbo as efforts continue to strengthen religious activities and promote unity within the Muslim Ummah.