The Minister of Defense, Gen. Christopher Musa, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to international humanitarian law and the strict observance of globally recognized human rights standards in all military operations.
Musa gave the assurance during a diplomatic working visit by the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Victims’ Rights Advocate, Ms. Najla Palma, and her delegation.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by the minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Mrs. Leah Katung-Babatunde.
During the meeting, the Defense Minister highlighted measures implemented by the Federal Government to address historical challenges stemming from past foreign peacekeeping missions involving Nigerian personnel.
He assured the UN delegation of a transparent and efficient communication framework to facilitate the resolution of longstanding paternity claims arising from Nigeria’s participation in peacekeeping operations in Liberia.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the mechanism is designed to expedite the handling of legacy cases and bring closure to issues that have remained unresolved for decades.
Musa reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring accountability, justice, and fairness for all parties involved.
In her remarks, Palma disclosed that 42 legacy cases were currently under review and appealed for the continued support of the Nigerian government in securing justice and redress for affected victims.
She also revealed that some of the individuals involved had expressed interest in acquiring Nigerian citizenship.
The UN official stressed the importance of sustained collaboration in addressing the humanitarian and legal dimensions of the cases.
Both parties agreed to institutionalize a stronger partnership focused on promoting accountability, protecting victims’ rights, and strengthening human rights compliance within military operations.
Under the proposed collaboration, Nigeria and the United Nations will organize specialized training programs, joint workshops, and advanced capacity-building initiatives to deepen the integration of human rights principles into the operational doctrine of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
The initiative is expected to further reinforce Nigeria’s commitment to responsible peacekeeping and international best practices in military conduct.
SOURCE: NAN
