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.
General Musa gave the assurance on Wednesday, 24 June 2026, 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 UN team on comprehensive frameworks implemented by the Federal Government to address historical challenges from past foreign peacekeeping operations, the Minister assured the delegation of a transparent, seamless communication channel.
The mechanism is designated to expeditiously resolve long-standing paternity claims arising from legacy missions in Liberia, bringing 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.
She noted 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.
The 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.
