ABUJA — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made history as the first Nigerian President in 66 years to receive the proposed United Nations budget, marking a significant milestone for the country’s diplomatic standing within the global body.
The seven-volume 2027 UN budget proposal, totaling approximately $14 billion, was formally presented to President Tinubu on Monday at the State House in Abuja by Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim.
The historic presentation follows Nigeria assuming the chairmanship of the UN General Assembly’s Fifth Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Matters—the key organ tasked with overseeing the financial and administrative affairs of the United Nations. It represents the first time Nigeria has led the committee in 66 years.
Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, Ambassador Ibrahim explained that the proposed estimates allocate roughly $3.4 billion for the UN’s regular operational budget and $8.5 billion for global peacekeeping operations.
Ibrahim emphasized that the document presented to President Tinubu remains a draft proposal that will undergo intense review, negotiations, and adjustments by member state delegations before being finalized and enacted by the UN General Assembly.
President Tinubu commended Ambassador Ibrahim and the diplomatic mission for their exemplary representation, noting that Nigeria’s strategic leadership of the Fifth Committee highlights the nation’s growing influence in international governance and global decision-making.
