Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Honourable Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd) OFR, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to international humanitarian law and strict adherence to globally accepted human rights standards across all military operations. This was contained in a statement signed by Leah Katung-Babatunde, SA (Media), to the Honourable Minister of Defence.
The Honourable Minister gave this assurance at the Ship House, Abuja, during a diplomatic working visit by the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Victims’ Rights Advocate, Ms. Najla Nassif Palma, and her delegation.
Briefing the visiting UN team on the comprehensive frameworks implemented by the Federal Government to address historical challenges from past foreign peacekeeping operations, General Musa assured the delegation of a transparent, seamless communication channel.
This mechanism is designated to expeditiously resolve long-standing paternity claims arising from legacy missions in Liberia, bringing a definitive closure to the decades-old issue.
In her remarks, Ms. Najla Nassif Palma outlined 42 legacy cases currently under review and sought the collaborative support of the Nigerian government in securing justice and closure for the victims, noting that some affected individuals have expressed a desire to acquire Nigerian citizenship.
Concluding the strategic engagement, both the Honourable Minister and the UN Assistant Secretary-General agreed to institutionalise a robust partnership. This collaboration will feature specialised training, joint workshops, and advanced capacity-building initiatives designed to further embed human rights protection into the operational doctrine of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
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