The United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Dr. Amina Mohammed, reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in overcoming its current economic challenges. During a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, in Abuja, Dr. Mohammed assured the Nigerian government of the UN’s continued assistance in navigating its financial and development hurdles.
Dr. Mohammed emphasized that Nigeria should leverage the upcoming Africa Food Summit in Kigali, Rwanda, as a strategic platform to advocate for increased financing, investments, and debt relief from international creditors. She highlighted the summit as an opportunity for Nigeria to push for crucial economic reforms and investment inflows that could significantly bolster its economy.
The UN Deputy Secretary-General also underscored the importance of exploring green transitions, particularly through carbon credits and innovative financing mechanisms such as green bonds. She stressed that attracting foreign direct investment from the private sector would be instrumental in generating the revenue necessary for developing countries like Nigeria to enhance their power systems and address pressing challenges.
“Nigeria has a unique opportunity to lead in green transitions and secure the financing needed for sustainable development,” Dr. Mohammed said. “The international community is committed to supporting Nigeria in meeting its food security and economic goals. We are here to ensure that your efforts are matched by the resources and partnerships required to succeed.”
Senator Abubakar Kyari, in his earlier remarks, urged Dr. Mohammed to leverage her global influence to create opportunities for Nigeria. He highlighted the need for the country to invest massively in agriculture as a means to create jobs, diversify the economy, and reduce dependency on food imports. He emphasized the importance of aligning Nigeria’s agricultural strategies with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1 and 2, which focus on poverty eradication and zero hunger.
Dr. Mohammed acknowledged the challenges Nigeria currently faces but expressed her unwavering belief in the country’s potential. “Despite the difficulties, I believe Nigeria has more potential than challenges. With the right investments and policies, the country can achieve remarkable success,” she stated.
She further noted that while overseas development assistance remains crucial for developing nations, the scale of financing required to make a significant impact is in trillions, not billions, of dollars. Dr. Mohammed called for a more robust financial architecture that is willing to channel substantial investments into countries like Nigeria.
