Tinubu backs Palestinian state at UNGA80
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday joined nations calling for recognition of Palestine during his address to the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. He placed Nigeria alongside countries like the UK, France, Canada, Australia and Portugal in support of Palestinian statehood.
He reaffirmed that a two-state solution is “the most dignified path” to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, urging the world to act decisively to protect Palestinian lives.
Tinubu condemned the suffering in Gaza and other conflict zones, describing the human cost as “stains on our collective humanity.” He criticised the UN’s inability to move from rhetorical statements to effective intervention.
“For all our careful diplomatic language, the slow pace of progress… has led some to look away from the multilateral model,” he said, lamenting that key decisions increasingly take place outside the assembly halls.
He called for institutional reform at the United Nations, demanding that Nigeria be given a permanent seat on the Security Council. “The United Nations will recover its relevance only when it reflects the world as it is, not as it was,” he argued.
On Nigeria’s progress, Tinubu recalled its journey from colonial status with 20 million people to a sovereign country of over 236 million, poised to become a major demographic and economic force.
READ ALSO: UK, Canada and Australia formally recognise Palestinian state
He also used the platform to address global economic injustices. He proposed creating a binding mechanism, an “International Court of Justice for money”, to manage sovereign debt and free developing countries from dependence on raw export models.
Tinubu emphasised Africa’s richness in strategic minerals, arguing that continent-level control and processing, rather than export of raw materials, would foster more equitable development and global stability.
He also stressed the need to close the digital divide in the global tech era, urging that “AI must stand for ‘Africa Included’,” and called for broader access to emerging technologies for developing nations.
Addressing security challenges, he warned that military tactics may win short wars, but ideological strength must underpin long-term victories over extremism.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to multilateralism, human rights, peace and development, warning that “none of us is safe until all of us are safe.”
He also flagged frustration with paralysis in the UN structure over conflicts like Gaza and Ukraine, noting that resolutions are frequently postponed by power blocs and veto threats.
READ ALSO: Shettima to represent Nigeria at 80th UN general assembly in New York
Tinubu’s speech placed Nigeria in the global spotlight at a time of heightened debate over international responsibility and the limits of institutional diplomacy.
The alignment with calls for Palestinian statehood marks a noticeable shift in Nigeria’s foreign policy posture, suggesting a more assertive diplomatic role for the country.
Critics may argue this is symbolic, but among many African nations, the move will resonate as solidarity with Palestinian rights and human dignity.
With global attention fixed on Gaza and broader Middle East conflict dynamics, Tinubu’s voice adds an influential African perspective to debates at the UN.
Should the push for recognition gain momentum, Nigeria may find itself at the front of coalition-building among Global South states.
This address also sets expectations for Nigeria’s future foreign policy, especially concerning Israel, the U.S., and other major powers engaged in the Middle East.
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