Nigeria’s UN Vote for Two-State Solution: A Step Toward Justice -By Abdullahi Abubakar Ladan

As a good governance advocate, I am proud to see Nigeria stand tall yesterday at the United Nations General Assembly, joining 141 nations to overwhelmingly support the “New York Declaration” with a 142-10 vote, pushing for a two-state solution to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This resolution, adopted on September 12, 2025, calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, condemns Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attacks, and denounces Israel’s military operations, which have tragically taken over 41,000 Palestinian lives. It sets a clear roadmap for a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, coexisting peacefully with Israel, while demanding an end to West Bank settlement expansion and the release of hostages.

This decision, to me, is long overdue, but I commend the UN for its timely action. It’s a wake-up call for Arab nations and Muslim-led countries to rise from their slumber and halt the unjust killing of innocent children simply for being Palestinian children who are too young to even understand their identity. Nigeria’s vote aligns with our nation’s history of championing justice and African unity, as no African country voted against the resolution, though Ethiopia and South Sudan abstained. This sends a powerful message: Africa stands against oppression, a stance rooted in our own painful history of subjugation, which still courses through our veins and will shape the mindset of generations until we achieve true freedom and liberty.

I urge President Tinubu to go beyond this vote and outline a clear roadmap to support the Palestinian cause, whether through diplomatic advocacy in the African Union or pushing for accountability at forums like the upcoming UN summit on September 22, 2025, or the Arab-Islamic summit in Doha next tomorrow, September 15. Nigeria must lead by example, showing the same commitment to justice abroad as we demand at home.

While the declaration isn’t legally binding, and Israel’s rejection backed by the US and others like Argentina and Hungary suggests challenges ahead, Nigeria’s voice matters. As a nation, we know the scars of oppression too well to stay silent. I call on our government to keep the pressure on, ensuring that the cries of Palestinian children are heard and that peace becomes more than a resolution on paper.

Abdullahi Abubakar Ladan
Good Governance Advocate