Nigeria has called on the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to place greater focus on Africa’s mounting development and security challenges, particularly the humanitarian crises in the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel, while reaffirming its support for the Palestinian people.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, made the call on Thursday at the 23rd Extraordinary Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Delivering Nigeria’s official statement, Enikanolaiye said the OIC must strengthen its cooperation with the African Union to address peace and security challenges, counter-terrorism, humanitarian emergencies, food and energy security, climate change, trade, investment and infrastructure development across the continent.
He said Nigeria was ready to work with the incoming OIC leadership to deepen practical cooperation and support national development priorities.
According to him, Nigeria is also backing the establishment of a Nigeria-OIC Working Group on Humanitarian Affairs to focus on insecurity and humanitarian challenges confronting the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel.
Enikanolaiye stressed the need for the OIC to move beyond declarations of solidarity towards measurable development outcomes that directly improve the lives of citizens in Nigeria and other African member states.
He welcomed increased OIC-supported programmes in vocational training, women empowerment, healthcare, youth development and cultural cooperation.
“From OIC solidarity to OIC-supported, measurable development outcomes,” he said, stressing the need for practical interventions across member states.
On the Middle East crisis, Nigeria reaffirmed its unwavering support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The minister expressed concern over the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza and called for the protection of civilians, unhindered humanitarian access and an enduring cessation of hostilities.
He said Nigeria opposed forced displacement, annexation and actions aimed at altering the demographic, territorial or legal character of the occupied Palestinian territories and Al-Quds Al-Sharif.
Nigeria also called for the preservation of the historical and religious character of Al-Quds and the protection of access to its holy sites.
Meanwhile, Enikanolaiye congratulated Ismaïl Ould Cheikh Ahmed on his election as the new Secretary-General of the OIC, saying Nigeria would work closely with the new leadership to advance the organisation’s objectives.
He said the selection process should continue to be guided by competence, integrity, experience, geographical balance, rotation, consensus and equal opportunity.
Following the election, the Nigerian minister held a one-on-one meeting with the new Secretary-General, becoming the first delegation received by him immediately after his emergence.
Enikanolaiye conveyed the congratulations of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Nigerian people and pledged Nigeria’s support for the success of the new Secretary-General’s tenure.
He also called for greater visibility of OIC programmes and projects in Nigeria and the appointment of more qualified Nigerians into the organisation’s secretariat and other offices.
On the margins of the meeting, the minister held bilateral discussions with Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Waleed Al-Khuraiji, where both sides discussed deeper cooperation in trade, investment, security and the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims.
He also met with Sierra Leone’s Foreign Minister, Mohammed Rahman Swaray, with discussions focusing on intra-African solidarity, South-South cooperation, regional peace and security, economic integration and the coordination of African positions at multilateral forums.
Enikanolaiye further met with the Chairman of the Saudi-Nigerian Business Council, Engr. Sultan Bin Mahdi Al Dabbara, to explore opportunities for stronger business-to-business partnerships between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
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The minister said greater unity, consensus and practical action were necessary for the OIC to advance the collective interests of its members and remain relevant in the emerging global order.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the OIC as a strategic platform for solidarity, peace, development and the collective advancement of member states.
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