The spokesperson for Nigerian President Bola Tinubu announced today, Thursday, that the president called on the United Nations to become more effective in addressing issues of poverty and security in the country and to assist in combating illegal resource extraction. The spokesperson stated in a statement that Tinubu raised these issues during his meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The Nigerian president stated that malicious entities involved in illegal activities, such as smuggling resources and weapons, exploit Africa's vast mineral wealth and undermine its stability. The statement quoted Tinubu saying, "We are facing the tremendous challenge of scavengers ravaging our lands and oppressing our people in illegal mines, taking our gold and mineral wealth to advanced economies through disguise and violence." He added, "We will now be aggressive and question the motives. We will stop what is happening," calling for "effective cooperation" with the United Nations.
Tinubu urged the UN to evolve from a platform for global discussion to a proactive coordination center. The statement noted that Guterres acknowledged the need for comprehensive reform within the UN to address institutional weaknesses and improve decision-making authority for developing countries.
