By Tiamiyu Prudence Arobani
Nigeria has assumed the leadership of the United Nations Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, (C-34), reinforcing the country’s longstanding role in shaping global peacekeeping policy and operations.
Amb. Jimoh Ibrahim, Nigeria’s UN Permanent Representative, assumed the chairmanship following the handover by his predecessor, Canadian Ambassador to the UN, David Lametti.
Ibrahim immediately outlined priorities aimed at making UN peacekeeping more practical, accountable and responsive to realities on the ground.
He said Nigeria would use the leadership position to push for a closer relationship between policies negotiated at UN Headquarters, and the realities confronting peacekeepers, host communities and civilians in conflict zones.
“We just took over the UN Peacekeeping Committee from Canada. Nigeria is fully back,” Jimoh said.
He identified closing the gap between policy formulation and operational implementation as one of Nigeria’s principal priorities under the chairmanship.
“We must ensure that the gap between policy and practice is closed”.
“This leadership gives us another opportunity to contribute meaningfully to strengthening multilateralism, improving peacekeeping and ensuring that the United Nations delivers practical results.”
The peacekeeping chairmanship adds to Nigeria’s expanding leadership responsibilities within the UN system.
This is especially as Ibrahim also currently chairs the General Assembly’s Fifth Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Committee.
He said Nigeria would use its responsibilities across the UN system to advance accountability, effective multilateralism and stronger connections between resources, policies and measurable outcomes.
The envoy said Nigeria would work closely with Canada, other members of the C-34 Bureau, troop- and police-contributing countries, financial contributors, the UN Secretariat and host countries in preparing for the committee’s 2027 substantive session.
He added that Nigeria’s leadership would be anchored on effective peacekeeping, protection of civilians, field-informed policy, financial responsibility, respect for the UN Charter and greater accountability across the peacekeeping partnership.
The Peacekeeping Committee brings together a broad range of peacekeeping stakeholders, including troop- and-police-contributing countries, major financial contributors, members of the Security Council and states hosting peacekeeping operations.
Ibrahim said Nigeria would advocate stronger participation by senior military leadership in the committee’s substantive deliberations, particularly during its February-to-March 2027 session.
He called for Chiefs of Army Staff and equivalent senior military authorities from participating countries to engage more directly with C-34 discussions.
Ibrahim also placed the protection of civilians at the centre of Nigeria’s emerging peacekeeping agenda.
He said peacekeeping and counter-terrorism responses must never lose sight of the fundamental rights and safety of civilians caught in conflict environments.
“Counter-terrorism operations must respect the right of civilians to exist and their right to protection”.
According to him, protecting civilians and defeating terrorism should not be treated as competing objectives.
“Security operations become more credible when innocent civilians are protected and when international law and human dignity remain central to the response”.
Canada’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. David Lametti, expressed support for constructive engagement under the new chairmanship, particularly on issues relating to peacekeeping financing and field engagement.
Lametti said Canada welcomed robust discussions around payment and financial responsibility, an area identified by the Nigerian chair as deserving greater attention.
The Canadian envoy also expressed support for greater interaction between committee delegates and peacekeeping operations in the field.
He pledged Canada’s support to visits that would enable members to obtain firsthand understanding of operational challenges confronting missions, peacekeepers and host communities.
