Nigeria on Tuesday in New York assumed the rotational presidency of the United Nations (UN) Security Council for the month of April.
Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Professor Joy Ogwu, took over from Ambassador Sylvie Lucas of Luxembourg, who held the presidency last month.
A statement by the Nigeria Mission at the UN in New York, said that Nigeria would actively promote international peace and security during its presidency.
“With the support of all other members of the council, Nigeria will use its month-long presidency to actively promote the cause of international peace and security, in line with the principles of the UN Charter and the mandate of the council”, it said.
Ogwu is scheduled to address a news conference at the UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday, where she will outline the Security Council’s programmes for the month.
Nigeria was elected a non-permanent member of the Security Council on October 17, 2013 and will serve on the council from 2014 to 2015.
This is the fifth time since its independence that Nigeria has been elected to serve on the 15-member council.
Nigeria previously served on the council from 1966-1967, 1978 – 1979, 1994-1995 and 2011- 2012 and currently holds the chair of two Security Council Committees. These are the Security Council Committee established in pursuant to resolution 2048 (2012) concerning Guinea-Bissau and the Ad-Hoc working group on Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa.
