The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) in Nigeria has called on the Federal Government to take a stronger stance on Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). In a statement released on September 25, MPAC Executive Director Mal. Disu Kamor expressed concerns over Nigeria's silence on the issue during the 81st UNGA. The organisation noted that Nigeria's national statement failed to mention Palestine, Gaza, the Palestinian people, or the two-state solution, despite addressing these issues in previous years.
MPAC contrasted Nigeria's current position with its stance at the 80th UNGA, where Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, reaffirmed support for a two-state solution. The organisation described Nigeria's silence this year as a significant departure from its previous position. MPAC also pointed out that Nigeria's address at UNGA 81 focused on issues such as UN Security Council reform, climate finance, and counter-terrorism, but did not mention Palestine or Gaza.
The organisation linked Nigeria's silence to its deepening security and diplomatic relations with Israel. In August 2025, Nigeria's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs signed a Security Cooperation Agreement with Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister. This agreement was followed by high-level engagements on intelligence sharing, surveillance technology, and counter-terrorism training. MPAC also referred to reports of further defence and intelligence cooperation between Nigeria and Israel in March 2026.
MPAC criticised Nigeria's decision not to join delegations that walked out of the General Assembly chamber during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address. The organisation questioned whether Nigeria's changed position on Palestine was connected to its growing ties with Israel. MPAC urged the Federal Government to clarify its stance on Palestine, stating that Nigerians deserved to know if the government's position had changed.
The organisation called on Nigeria to take three specific steps: join South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), review its security cooperation with Israel, and publicly demonstrate solidarity with Palestine at the United Nations. MPAC noted that several countries had already filed declarations of intervention in the ICJ proceedings and described Nigeria's absence as "conspicuous".
MPAC emphasised that Nigeria's historical support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict made its current silence on the issue puzzling. The organisation urged the Federal Government to explain why Palestine was absent from its latest UNGA statement. MPAC also stressed that the suffering of Palestinians had not disappeared, despite their absence from Nigeria's latest UNGA address.
The organisation concluded by stating that Nigeria must take a stronger stance on Palestine, citing the country's role as Africa's largest democracy and home to the continent's largest Muslim population. MPAC's call to action comes as the ICJ continues to hear South Africa's case against Israel under the Genocide Convention.
Key points
- MPAC urges Nigeria to join South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the ICJ.
- The organisation criticises Nigeria's growing security and diplomatic ties with Israel.
- MPAC calls on Nigeria to publicly demonstrate solidarity with Palestine at the United Nations.
