Tinubu addresses 78th UNGA, advocates sanction over illegal smuggling of arms

In New York City, President Bola Tinubu addressed the 78th United Nations General Assembly, urging member nations to take concrete actions against terror financing, economic sabotage, and illicit arms and mineral smuggling in developing countries, especially within Africa.

The president stressed the importance of securing mineral-rich areas in Africa from exploitation, noting the prevalence of illegal mining and resource pilfering that fund violent enterprises.

He called for international cooperation to deter firms and nationals involved in this illicit practice, emphasizing the need to end the exploitation of African resources.

President Tinubu emphasised the need for equitable and mutually beneficial trade and investment between Nigeria, Africa, and the world. He urged nations to support critical industries, expand ports for quality African exports, and provide meaningful debt relief.

Highlighting the fight against climate change, the president urged for tailored strategies based on each country’s socio-economic strengths and weaknesses.

He emphasized the importance of projects promoting economic development while addressing environmental challenges, such as ‘The Great Green Wall’ and initiatives focused on sustainable employment and local water management.

President Tinubu concluded by inviting the world to walk alongside Africa as true partners, recognizing Africa as a key player in the world’s future and urging genuine collaboration for global progress.

He said: “The fourth important aspect of global trust and solidarity is to secure the continent’s mineral-rich areas from pilfering and conflict. Many such areas have become catacombs of misery and exploitation. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has suffered this for decades, despite the strong UN presence there. The world economy owes the DRC much but gives her very little.

“Foreign entities that are abetted by local criminals, who aspire to be petty warlords, have drafted thousands of our people into servitude to illegally mine gold and other resources. Billions of dollars meant to improve the nation now fuel countless violent enterprises. If left unchecked, they will threaten peace and place national security at grave risk. Given the extent of this injustice and the high stakes involved, many Africans are asking whether this phenomenon is by accident or by design.

“Member nations must reply by working with us to deter their firms and nationals from this 21st-century pillage of the continent’s riches. To keep faith with the tenets of this world body and the theme of this year’s Assembly, the poverty of nations must end. The pillage of one nation’s resources by the overreach of firms and people of stronger nations must now end.”

President Tinubu further noted that his aggressive economic development diplomatic push for new investment has been demonstrably effective in presenting Nigeria as business-ready, but the ease of doing business, according to the President, might not be the major encumbrance to large-scale investment.

Tinubu said: “The question is not whether Nigeria is open for business. The question is how much of the world is truly open to doing business with Nigeria and Africa in an equal, mutually beneficial manner. Direct investment in critical industries, opening their ports to a wider range and larger quantity of quality African exports, and meaningful debt relief are important aspects of the cooperation we desire.”

The president equally noted that the global fight against the effects of climate change cannot be based on a “one size fits all” approach and that nations must cooperate in the design and implementation of their own strategies, which are tailored to their respective socio-economic strengths and weaknesses.

“African nations will fight climate change, but we must do so on our own terms. To achieve the needed popular consensus, this campaign must accord with our overall economic efforts. In Nigeria, we shall build political consensus by highlighting remedial actions that also promote the broader economic good.

“Projects such as ‘The Great Green Wall’ to stop desert encroachment; halting the destruction of our forests through the mass production and distribution of gas-burning stoves; and the provision of employment through local water management and irrigation projects are examples of efforts that equally advance both economic and climate change objectives simultaneously. Continental efforts regarding climate change will register important victories, only if established economies were more forthcoming with public and private sector investment for Africa’s preferred projects and initiatives.”

President Bola Tinubu concluded by reminding the world what Africa represents in the global village.

He noted: “Walk with us as true friends and partners. Africa is not a problem to be avoided, nor is it to be pitied. Africa is nothing less than the key to the world’s future.”