Nigeria has been re-elected for the 48th time to chair the United Nations Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, regarded as UN’s most strategic committee.
The Charge d’Affaires, Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations, Ambassador Samson Itegboje, was elected Chair of the committee also known as C-34 by acclamation at the United Nations Headquarters in New York during the opening of the 2020 Session. Nigeria has chaired the special committee on peacekeeping operations from 1972 till date and has always been re-elected to lead the most critical committee of the United Nations. Nigeria is among the world’s 15th largest troops contributor to UN Peacekeeping operations and the eighth in Africa.
Canada was re-elected as Vice-Chair, while Argentina, Poland Japan and Egypt were elected as Bureau members.
The Nigerian envoy’s election has been viewed as a demonstration of the confidence reposed by the UN in Nigeria regarding the envoy’s ability, personality and charisma within the diplomatic community. The Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations was established in 1965 by the General Assembly in order to review and provide recommendations on United Nations Peacekeeping Operations.
