The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC), Nigeria, has criticised the Federal Government for failing to mention Palestine in its national statement at the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), saying the omission marked a departure from the country’s position at last year’s session.
In a statement issued on Friday by its Executive Chairman, Disu Kamor, the group recalled that Nigeria’s statement at UNGA 80 had expressly condemned violence against civilians in Gaza and reaffirmed support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
At the 80th session in 2025, Nigeria said it was concerned about the violence and aggression against civilians in Gaza and stated that a two-state solution remained the “most dignified path to lasting peace” for Palestinians.
However, MPAC said Nigeria’s address at the 81st UNGA, delivered by Vice President Kashim Shettima on behalf of President Bola Tinubu on Thursday, did not specifically mention Gaza, Palestine or the two-state solution.
The 2026 address focused on issues including reform of the UN Security Council, international peace and security, conflicts in Sudan and other regions, humanitarian access, climate finance, artificial intelligence, debt and counter-terrorism.
Kamor said the development raised questions about whether Nigeria’s diplomatic position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict had changed.
“If Nigeria’s position has changed, Nigerians deserve to know. If it has not changed, then why did an address built around justice, international law, humanitarian access and the protection of civilians find no room—not one sentence—for the Palestinian people?” he asked.
MPAC also linked the development to what it described as Nigeria’s expanding bilateral engagement with Israel.
The group noted that Nigeria and Israel held a high-level political dialogue in Abuja in August 2025, during which both countries discussed strengthening cooperation in security, counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing, specialised security training, technology, trade and other areas.
According to MPAC, the deepening of Nigeria-Israel relations made the absence of a reference to Palestine at this year’s UNGA particularly significant.
The organisation also called on the Federal Government to join South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice and to make any security cooperation with Israel subject to accountability over the conduct of the Gaza war.
MPAC further urged Nigeria to take a more visible position on the Palestinian issue in multilateral forums, arguing that its commitment to international law and civilian protection should apply consistently.
The organisation said the Palestinian issue remained unresolved and called on the Federal Government to explain what it described as a shift between Nigeria’s statements at UNGA 80 and UNGA 81.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s 81st UNGA address reiterated the country’s commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes under the UN Charter and called on parties to conflicts to uphold international humanitarian and human rights law, protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian access.