The Federal Government of Nigeria has again forcefully reaffirmed the country’s support for an independent Palestinian state, while simultaneously challenging developed nations to provide a trillion dollars in annual climate finance.
Ambassador Dunoma Umar Ahmed, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, delivered Nigeria’s position on Wednesday at the 19th Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Kampala.
The address outlined Nigeria’s stance on three critical fronts: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the climate financing gap, and the urgent need for reform of global institutions.
On the question of Palestine, Ambassador Ahmed left no room for ambiguity, placing it at the centre of the movement’s purpose. “Nigeria reaffirms that the question of Palestine remains at the heart of NAM,” he told the assembly of delegates.
He condemned the “continued occupation and the grave violations of international law and human rights suffered by the Palestinian people” and urged the 120 member bloc to maintain its advocacy. “NAM must continue to champion their legitimate aspirations for statehood and self-determination,” he stated.
Reiterating Nigeria’s long standing diplomatic position, he said, “Nigeria reiterates its firm support for a two State solution, with an independent State of Palestine, based on the 1967 borders, and with East Jerusalem as its capital.”
Shifting to the climate crisis, Ambassador Ahmed highlighted the disproportionate burden on developing countries and issued a direct challenge to wealthy nations. He stated that without adequate support, the climate efforts of the Global South would “fall short.”
While acknowledging the unfulfilled pledge of $100 billion annually, he declared that this was now insufficient. “We therefore call on developed countries to fulfil their longstanding commitments… and to scale up to financing of at least $1 trillion annually, as needed to meet the climate goals of the Global South,” he said, signalling a significant escalation in the financial ask from developing nations.
He detailed Nigeria’s domestic efforts, including establishing the National Credit Guarantee Company to de-risk green investments. He argued for the wider use of such “green guarantees,” which he said could “mobilize five to six times more finance than conventional tools.”
The Nigerian diplomat also addressed systemic issues in global governance, describing reform as an “urgent imperative.” He warned that the current architecture fails to reflect modern realities.
“Without meaningful reform, global governance risks further erosion of legitimacy, effectiveness, and trust,” he cautioned, aligning with a common critique from the Global South about the structure of bodies like the UN Security Council.
Solidarity as a Central Theme
Throughout the speech, the theme of unity among NAM members was paramount. Ahmed argued that the interconnected crises of “climate-induced disasters, persistent conflicts, terrorism, pandemics, and widening inequalities” cannot be faced alone.
He called for “deeper solidarity among our Member States and a renewed commitment to sustainable development as a central strategy for peace, security, and prosperity.”
Concluding his remarks, Ambassador Ahmed pledged Nigeria’s “unwavering commitment to the founding principles of the Movement” and its goal to build a future of “shared global affluence—anchored on justice, equity, and mutual respect.”
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