Badaru Reaffirms Nigeria’s UN Peacekeeping Role, Eyes Greater Global Impact
Nigeria has reaffirmed its longstanding role in global peacekeeping, with Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar declaring its renewed commitment to United Nations missions and broader international security efforts.
Speaking at the 2025 UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in New York, Badaru emphasized Nigeria’s readiness to take on a greater global role through strengthened contributions and expanded pledges to peacekeeping operations.
His remarks underscored Nigeria’s long-standing contributions to global peacekeeping and emphasized the country’s intention to bolster its involvement in future operations.
> “Nigeria remains resolute in its support of the United Nations and the global community in fostering peace, security, and stability,” the minister declared.
Nigeria currently maintains a rotation of its Base Protection Force with the United Nations Interim Security Force in Abyei (UNISFA), and a Formed Police Unit with the United Nations Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), according to the minister. These deployments reflect the country’s enduring legacy of peacekeeping, especially across the African continent.
Beyond UN missions, Nigeria continues to lead peace and security initiatives under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU). Minister Badaru pointed to Nigeria’s historic interventions in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and more recently, The Gambia and Guinea Bissau — missions credited with helping stabilize fragile governments and prevent regional spillover of conflicts.
Analysts say Nigeria’s military diplomacy has long been a cornerstone of its foreign policy, and this latest move signals Abuja’s desire to reclaim a more active role amid shifting geopolitical dynamics in West Africa, including recent coups and the rise of terrorism.
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In a notable highlight, Minister Badaru announced Nigeria’s new pledges to the UN Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System. The pledges include five additional commitments aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s preparedness and capacity to respond to international peacekeeping needs. While the specific nature of these commitments was not disclosed in the statement, defence sources suggest they may involve logistics, personnel training, and deployment readiness.
“This is a strategic step to reinforce our ability to respond quickly and efficiently when called upon by the UN,” a senior military official familiar with the development said under condition of anonymity.
Nigeria’s reinforced peacekeeping ambitions come at a time when the country is battling a worsening security crisis at home, including insurgency in the North East, farmer-herder conflicts in the Middle Belt, and rising banditry and kidnappings across the country.
Critics have questioned whether Nigeria can afford an expanded international role while its domestic security apparatus is stretched thin. However, proponents argue that Nigeria’s active engagement in global peacekeeping bolsters its international standing, provides valuable experience for its armed forces, and strengthens bilateral defence partnerships.
“Peacekeeping allows Nigeria to maintain its influence on the world stage and shape the global security narrative from an African perspective,” said Dr. Funmilayo Adebayo, an expert in international security at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA).
Minister Badaru concluded his address by urging international partners to deepen collaboration in the face of rising global threats, noting that peacekeeping is not merely a UN obligation but a collective global responsibility.
“Peace is a shared burden,” he said. “We must all rise to the occasion.”
By PRNigeria
