By Zainab Bakare
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd), has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to international humanitarian law and globally accepted human rights standards in all military operations.
General Musa gave the assurance during a diplomatic working visit by the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Victims’ Rights Advocate, Najla Palma, and her delegation at the Ship House in Abuja.
According to a statement by the Minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Leah Katung-Babatunde, the Defence Minister briefed the UN delegation on measures put in place by the Federal Government to address challenges arising from past foreign peacekeeping missions.
He assured the delegation of a transparent and effective communication mechanism aimed at resolving long-standing paternity claims linked to Nigeria’s participation in peacekeeping operations in Liberia.
The initiative, he said, is intended to bring closure to the decades-old issue.
Speaking during the meeting, Palma disclose that 42 legacy cases are currently under review and appealed for the Nigerian government’s continued cooperation in ensuring justice and redress for affected victims.
She also note that some of the individuals involved have expressed interest in obtaining Nigerian citizenship.
The meeting further explore ways to strengthen collaboration between Nigeria and the United Nations on victims’ rights and accountability.
At the end of the engagement, both parties agreed to institutionalise a stronger partnership focused on human rights protection within the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
The collaboration will include specialised training programmes, joint workshops, and capacity-building initiatives aimed at deepening compliance with international human rights standards in military operations.
