The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC), Nigeria, has criticised the Federal Government for failing to mention Palestine in Nigeria’s national statement at the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
In a statement issued on Friday by its Executive Chairman, Disu Kamor, the organisation said Nigeria had spoken extensively about the situation in Gaza during the previous UN General Assembly but made no direct reference to Palestine, the Palestinian people or a two-state solution in its latest statement.
Nigeria’s 24-paragraph national statement, delivered by Vice President Kashim Shettima on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, focused on issues including reform of the UN Security Council, climate finance, artificial intelligence, global debt architecture, counter-terrorism and conflicts in Sudan and other regions.
MPAC said the omission represented a departure from Nigeria’s position at the 80th UNGA, when the country condemned violence against civilians in Gaza and reaffirmed its support for a two-state solution.
“Gaza not mentioned. The Palestinian people not mentioned. The two-state solution – the very phrase Nigeria used ‘without stuttering and without doubt’ twelve months ago – not mentioned once,” the group stated.
The organisation questioned whether the omission was connected to what it described as Nigeria’s deepening security and diplomatic relations with Israel under the Tinubu administration.
MPAC cited the Security Cooperation Agreement signed between Nigeria and Israel in August 2025, as well as reported engagements involving intelligence sharing, surveillance technology and counter-terrorism training.
It also referred to plans for a Nigeria-Israel Joint Commission covering areas such as security, health, technology and economic cooperation.
The group questioned whether Nigeria’s omission of Palestine from its latest UN statement was linked to its growing relationship with Israel.
MPAC called on the Federal Government to consider joining South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and urged Nigeria to make security cooperation with Israel subject to accountability considerations.
The organisation also called for a more visible Nigerian position on the Palestinian issue in future international engagements.
“Palestine has not disappeared. Gaza has not disappeared. The suffering has not disappeared,” MPAC stated.
The group said Nigerians deserved an explanation if the government’s position on Palestine had changed, while also asking why the issue was absent from the latest UNGA statement if Nigeria’s position remained unchanged.
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