niianews

Newsletter of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs

Volume 1 No. 3 July - September, 2005 REFORMS In this issue: A Colloquium at NIIA

Security, Poverty, Infectious Diseases, - The UN Reforms: A Colloquium (HIV/AIDS), Environmental at NIIA Degradation, Conflict between and within states; Nuclear, Radiological, - Presentations at the Chemical and Biological Weapons, Terrorism, Transnational Organized Colloquium Crime, Use of Force, Peace - Reform of the Security Council Enforcement, Peace-Keeping, Post- Conflict Peace-Building and Protection - Why deserves a of Civilians.

Permanent Seat in the UN In addition, the Report has a section on how to have a more effective UN for Security Council the twenty-first century. This aspect - Exhibition covers reform proposals on all the Chief , GCFR, organs of the UN and its charter. All - Founders' Day President and Commander-in-Chief, members were invited to debate the Federal Republic of Nigeria submission thoroughly so that informed - On-going Book Projects decisions could be made about the Reforms. The UN Reforms Challenges Before the UN he United Nations (UN) has been Colloquium on the United Nations Tand still remains the most important or decades now, there have been AReforms was organized by the platform for nation-states to pursue Fcalls for the reorganization and Institute from the 23rd – 25th June, their foreign policy interests and reform of the UN to make it more 2005. The event, which was meant to objectives. The UN, being a vast global relevant to the needs of its members, sensitize the Nigerian public, organization with functional more effective in facing the many particularly members of the involvement in virtually every challenges confronting it and more open intelligentsia, was sponsored by the important sphere of human endeavour and democratic. Committee on National Awareness on provides enormous benefits and UN Reforms. The well attended event, advantages to its members states now The challenges include the problem of which was chaired by Ambassador numbering 191. The UN has no doubt development and poverty. The UN has Arthur Mbanefo, a former Permanent served as a very effective global stage adopted the Millennium Development Representative to the UN, attracted because it commands the attention of Goals (MDGs) as a guide to its shared participants from the academic and the international community. vision of development and eradication diplomatic communities, the armed of poverty. forces, the corporate world and media The world has gone through organizations. fundamental changes since the UN was formed in 1945. These changes have Among the distinguished participants been even more dramatic in the last were Ambassadors Akporode Clark, few decades. Against this background, Gabriel Olusanya, O. Falola, and Alaba the UN Secretary-General following the Ogunsanwo. Others were Fingap UN Millennium Declaration of 2000, set Njinga, Director, UN Information up the High-Level Panel on Centre, Professors Alele Williams, Threats, Challenges and Change to Charles Alade, Paulina M. Adebusoye, offer informed opinion on the Reform A. Uchegbu, Remi Anifowoshe, and Agenda of the organization. Yomi Akinyeye, Drs. O.B.C. Nwolise, Paul Adogamhe, Franca Attoh, and The Panel submitted its Report titled Rev. Fr. G. Ehusani to mention a few. “A More Secure World: Our Shared Teachers and students of King’s Responsibility” to the UN Secretary- College, Queen’s College, St. General in December, 2004. The Gregory’s College, Holy Child College Report covered a whole range of issues Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar, Chairman, which pose challenges for the world all of Lagos, were also in attendance. Committee on National Awareness on body. These include Collective UN Reforms at a Dinner organised by BSG at Eko Le Meridian, Lagos 1 Secretary-General's Vision

n the basis of this, the UN OSecretary-General, Mr. , prepared a statement under the title, “In Larger Freedom: Towards Development, Security and Human Rights for All”. This L-R., Mr. Fingap Njinga, Director UN Information Centre and Prof. U. , DG NIIA. General , Prof. U. Joy provided greater clarity on the way Ogwu, Chief and a guest. forward for the UN and it was against together all the members of United this background that President Nations. The MDG has set targets in critical Olusegun Obasanjo set up the A third aspect of the Freedoms which the areas including global trade and Committee on National Awareness on UN Reform is being designed to address financial system within the context UN Reforms under the chairmanship of is the “Freedom to live in Dignity”. of liberalization. African countries former Head of State, General This is a declaration of commitment to welcome this and have also Abdulsalam Abubakar. It was this human rights and fundamental freedoms. requested Multilateral Institutions to Committee which sponsored the adapt their policies to be in Colloquium. A total of twenty-two This is a redefinition of the traditional conformity with the objectives of the papers were presented on several human rights protection pursuits of the MDGs. The management and aspects of the UN Reforms. The United Nations. In promoting this resolution of the debt burden of participants generally welcomed the Freedom to live in Dignity, action is many developing countries was UN reform programme. They required in the area of the Rule of Law, another challenge before the UN. expressed the hope that the reforms broad promotion of human rights and would lead to greater involvement and fundamental freedoms and the Human Security in view of the many participation of African states in the promotion of democracy. threats to peace around the world is work of the organization with greater another challenge before the UN. benefits for the cause of African Another critical dimension of the UN Related to this is the growing threat development. Reform Agenda is the reorganization of to human rights. Of particular the UN generally. This is, however, concern to Africans are the problems overshadowed by the attention given to The issue of development has been the expansion of the UN Security Council of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, abject presented in the Reform Agenda as poverty, international organized by all members. Here the enthusiasm of “Freedom from Want”. This is part the participants to contribute to the debate crimes, women and child trafficking of the new shared vision of among others; economic, cultural was understandable because Nigeria is development and a powerful way of in consideration for one of the two and social rights and the threats of evoking the desire and efforts aimed nuclear, biological and chemical permanent seats on offer for Africa at eliminating want and poverty. according to one of the two Security weapons as well as that of small Participants also examined the issue arms and light weapons. Council Reform models. This is closely of development in relation to related to the possible future role of financing, production and trade, while There was also the need to promote Nigeria in a reformed United Nations and the factor of environmental the national aspiration of being one of the gender equality and pay more sustainability and the special needs of attention to the role of women in two permanent members expected to Africa were also looked at. Importantly, represent Africa in an expanded United development and their Nigeria’s national strategy on this whole representation in the UN. The reform Nations Security Council. issue of development was critically Observations of the of the UN and its organs and examined. It was concluded that there agencies including the General is a lot of work for Nigeria to do Participants at the Colloquium Assembly, the Economic and Social particularly in meeting the general Council, the Human Rights Council, developmental challenge, achieving ome of the observations made by the Security Council constitute key freedom from want and meeting the Sparticipants at the Colloquium are as issues and fundamental Millennium Development Goals (MDG). follows: development concerns to all UN members. Another aspect of the challenges of the * The decision to reform the UN is era which attracted the attention of the necessary in view of its many participants, was the issue of security inadequacies in relation to the needs of Publications Committee now presented as “Freedom from the current era; Alli, W.O. - Chairman Fear”. This is actually a new vision of the whole concept of Collective * These reforms, it is hoped, will improve Onoh, C. - Secretary Security. Here, new elements and the democratic content of the sources of insecurity were identified organization; Oni, J. A. Oche, O. and analyzed. Among such were the problems of use of force to resolve * Development and eradication of Nwume, A. Agbu, O. disputes, the threats of Nuclear, poverty and the achievement of the Biological and Chemical Weapons; the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Inyang, R. Agwu, F. A. menace of terrorism, international are major challenges before the world George, F.O. Egom, P. A. organized crime and women and child body; trafficking, and the spread of Small Emmanuel, B.S. Wiltshire, L. Arms and Light Weapons. * Growing wave of intra-state conflicts in developing states jeopardize sustainable Design & Layout It was understood that as the character development; of threats to peace and security in the Emmanuel, B.S. world is changing so also should be the * Social, economic and political injustices George, F.O. responses to them. Accordingly, the act as triggers for conflicts; key issue in confronting these threats niianews is published by: is Collective Security: that, more than * Continued accumulation of nuclear, ever should have a truly collective biological and chemical weapons NIIA Publications Committee content and framework, which bring threatens world peace;

2 niianews - Newsletter of the NIIA * Unilateralism in the UN is a veritable Exhibition threat to collective security and global of other groups outside her borders. peace; A Pictorial Exhibition was put together Nigeria has played a great role in the by the NIIA Library and Documentation peacekeeping and peacemaking efforts * There is need to expand the Service as part of the sensitization of the UN, the OAU/AU and ECOWAS membership of critical organs of the package. The colourful exhibition over the past four decades. She has UN like the Security Council to reflect chronicled the activities of the UN over contributed more than any other African the membership spread. the years and the participation of country, both in men and material, Nigeria in Peacekeeping operations. towards ensuring regional and global On the basis of the above It generated a great deal of interest peace. observations ,the participants made among the participants. the following recommendations: The role of Nigeria in the resolution of the Liberian and Sierra Leonean crises * The UN should develop a have led to the redefinition of the UN framework and mechanism which traditional conflict resolution will encourage democracy, methodologies since the mid-1990s. multilateralism and effective participation of all members in the The UN Secretary-General has argued activities of the organization; that members of the Security Council should be those nations which * There is need for transparency in “contribute most to the United Nations the management of the UN and its L-R., May Nzeribe, Mr. Pascal Dozie and Prof. U. financially, militarily and diplomatically; agencies; Joy Ogwu participate in mandated peace * More attention should be given to operations and contribute to the the needs of the developing nations; Dinner voluntary activities of the UN in the areas of security and development and * There is an urgent need to s part of activities to sensitize the diplomatic activities in support of United empower relevant organs of the UN ANigerian public, the NIIA, in Nations objectives and mandates”. to deal with the crisis of infectious collaboration with the Business Support diseases, such as the HIV/AIDS, Group (BSG) organized a dinner on the Speakers at the Sensitization which are becoming security threats 25th of June, 2005, which was sponsored Colloquium on UN Reforms agree that in different parts of the world by Corporate Nigeria. The dinner, held Nigeria has met the criteria defined by particularly in Africa; at the Banquet Hall of Eko le Meridien the High Level Panel for permanent Hotel attracted corporate leaders, membership of the UNSC. Africa * There is need for more investment members of the intelligentsia, serving deserves to have Nigeria as one of its in efforts to manage intra-state and retired diplomats and two permanent members on a reformed conflicts particularly in Africa; and in ambassadors, ranking members of the Security Council. It was, however, combating international organized armed forces, and media practitioners. suggested that a lot of diplomatic efforts crimes, women and child trafficking, Among the dignitaries who attended the would have to be made to achieve this terrorism and other such threats to event were Major General A. Abubakar, objective. peace; former Head of State and Chairman * African nations should make Committee on National Awareness on concerted efforts through UN Reforms, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, The Reform of the Security accelerated integration and the Major General Ike Nwachukwu, former Council NEPAD framework to achieve the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Pascal he Charter of the United Nations objectives of the MDGs and Dozie and several other distinguished T(UN) conferred primary eradicate poverty; ladies and gentlemen. responsibility on the Security Council for the maintenance of international * Multilateral institutions such as the Why Nigeria Deserves a peace and security. The United Nations IMF, the World Bank and WTO should Permanent Seat in the UN Security Council (UNSC) was designed be made to accommodate the Security Council to enable the UN act decisively to interests of developing countries; protect and remove threats to peace. The UN was created not just as a he High Level Panel set up by the * The UN Reforms should create representative but also as a responsible UN Secretary-General submitted its more room for regional T body, one that has the capacity for report in which it recommended two organizations to play more roles in decisive action. The UNSC was made models for the reform and expansion the work of the organization; up of five permanent members and six of the UNSC. Two permanent and four non-permanent members at its none permanent seats were proposed * Women should be empowered and inception. The non-permanent for the African region in Model A. In given more role in the UN; members were later increased to Model B, the proposal was for two four- * Nigeria’s quest for a permanent eleven, making the total membership year renewable seats and four two-year seat in the Security Council is a of the Council sixteen. non-renewable seats for Africa. There worthy cause and should be pursued With time, the effectiveness of the is a growing consensus that Model A is with more vigour. UNSC has been questioned. Therefore widely preferred by Africans. The participants expressed the hope the reform of the Council is one of the Accordingly, Nigeria has declared that these proposals, if implemented key elements of the UN Reforms. interest in one of the two permanent would make the UN a truly global seats meant for Africa. organization for the family of man. Nigeria is very qualified for this seat. In terms of population, one in every four Africans is a Nigerian. Nigeria is Africa’s most prominent and consistent defender of Africa's liberation. Nigeria has shown willingness and capacity to assume responsibilities in finding solutions to regional and global L-R., Chief Arthur Mbanefo, Amb. B. A. problems, and in the promotion of the L-R., Chinedu Ebo Esq Executive Secretary BSG, Clarke, Prof. U. Joy Ogwu at one of the political, social and economic well-being Prof. U. Joy Ogwu, DG NIIA, Prof. W.O. Alli, DRS NIIA at the pre-event briefing. session. niianews - Newsletter of the NIIA 3 The HLP observed that - since the end Regional N.S. P.S. P. 4-yr P. 2yr. s. Total of the cold war, the effectiveness of the Area (r s) (n-r) Founders' Day 2005 Council has improved as has its Africa 53 0 2 4 6 willingness to act; Asia & Pacific 56 1 2 3 6 Europe 47 3 2 1 6 The “Founders Day” refers to the day Americas 37 1 2 3 6 the Institute was officially commissioned * but it has not always been equitable Total 191 5 8 11 24 in December 13, 1961. The anniversary in its actions nor has it acted is usually marked with a series of consistently or effectively in the face NOTES: N.S. ->No. of Seats; P.S. (C) -> activities including a Lecture known as of genocide and other atrocities, thus Permanent Seats (Continuing); P.n.P.s. -> Founder’s Day Lecture. gravely affecting its credibility. Proposed new Permament seats; P. 2yr s. (n- r).> Proposed 2-yr seats>; P.S. -> Permanent The first lecture which marked the Seats; P. 4-yr (r s) ->Proposed 4-yr renewable beginning of this tradition, which has * the financial and military seats. endured for the past forty-one years, contributions, to the UN, of some of the was delivered by Mr. Jaja Nwachukwu, five permanent members are modest In both models, to be elected as a Nigeria’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs, compared to their special status. member of the Security Council, a on December 13, 1963. This year state: however, it is being planned to hold on * that outside the use of formal veto, - must be among the top three December 6, 2005. the ability of the five permanent financial contributors in their Other Founder’s activities also members to keep critical issues of relevant regional area to the include: peace and security off the Security regular budget; · An exhibition around a chosen Council’s agenda has further - or among the top three theme undermined confidence in the body’s contributors from their regional · An open day where people work. area to the UN Peacekeeping especially students can learn Missions. about the Institute The HLP then proposed: With the above recommendations of the • That members of the Council This year’s lecture will be delivered, for HLP, Nigeria, South Africa and Egypt should, in honoring Article 23 of the the first time, by a woman: Mrs Obiageli emerged as the leading contenders for Charter of the UN, increase the Ezekwesili, Honourable Minister of Solid the two permanent seats allotted to involvement in decision-making of Minerals, who before her present Africa. In order to clinch one of the two those who contribute most to the UN appointment was the President’s Senior seats to Africa, the Federal Government financially, militarily and diplomatically. Special Assistant and Head of Budget set up a National Awareness Monitoring and Price Intelligence Unit • That the UN should bring into Committee on UN Reforms chaired by (BMPIU), popularly known as Due the decision-making process countries H.E. General , Process. The title of her lecture is “Solid more representative of the broader GCFR, to sensitize Nigerians on the need Minerals: A Strategic Asset for membership, especially of the to be in the UNSC as a permanent National Development”. developing world. member. • That the UN should not impair the effectiveness of the Council. NIIA PUBLICATIONS • That the UN should increase the democratic and accountable nature of the body. New Horizons for Nigeria in The panel believes that a decision World Affairs on the enlargement of the Council Edited by: U. Joy Ogwu satisfying these criteria is now a necessity, and, thus, proposed that either of the models below should be adopted: Model A. Six new permanent seats, with no veto being created, and three new two-year term non-permanent seats, divided among the major regional areas as follows: L-R. President Obasanjo, Prof. U. Joy Ogwu (OFR) and Prof. Alaba Ogunsanwo (1st right) Regional N.S. P. S. P. n. P.s. P. 2-yr s. Total inspecting books at the NIIA Publications Area (C) (n-r) Africa 53 0 2 4 6 Exhibition during the PAC Foreign Policy Asia & Pacific 56 1 2 3 6 Retreat, Abuja. Europe 47 3 1 2 6 Americas 37 1 1 4 6 The book documents the insightful and Total 191 5 6 13 24 scholarly deliberations of the Nigerian Journal of International Affairs, Model B. conference organised by NIIA to Vol.31, No1, 2005. Price: N500.00 This model provides for no new stimulate an understanding of the permanent seats but a new category philosophical, historical, contemporary The Nigerian Forum. Price: N250.00 of eight four-year renewable-term and futuristic dimensions of Nigeria's seats and one new two-year non- foreign policy. For further information on NIIA permanent (and non-renewable) seats, publications, please visit the Free divided among the major regions as ISBN 978-002-056-X 360pp. Price: N1,500 download centre page of the follows: Institute’s official website www.niianet.org.

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