President Bola Tinubu has received the United Nations’ proposed 2027 budget from Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Jimoh Ibrahim.
Ibrahim, who chairs the UN General Assembly’s Fifth Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Matters, presented the seven-volume document to the President following its submission to the committee by the UN Secretary-General.
He described the occasion as historic, noting that it was the first time in 66 years that Nigeria had chaired the committee responsible for the organisation’s administrative and budgetary affairs.
“This is the first time in 66 years that Nigeria will chair the Budget and Administrative Committee. It is the first time, and we do not know when it will happen again in history,” Ibrahim said.
He stated that Tinubu was making history by receiving the proposed budget, describing the presentation as a significant milestone for Nigeria.
Ibrahim disclosed that the proposed UN regular budget stood at approximately $3.4 billion, with an additional $8.5 billion allocated to peacekeeping operations. He put the overall financial provision at $14 billion, equivalent to between ₦36 trillion and ₦40 trillion.
“It is not a small matter for a country to receive the entire UN budget,” he said, expressing satisfaction that the President had received the seven volumes.
However, Ibrahim stressed that the document remained a proposal and would undergo detailed negotiations and approval by member states before implementation.
“This is a proposed budget. It is the proposal submitted to member countries. Thereafter, the budget is discussed in detail, the figures are adjusted, and the final budget is approved before spending commences,” he explained.
On Nigeria’s expected share of the budget, the envoy declined to disclose specific figures, saying consultations with other committee members were ongoing.
“As for Nigeria, I do not want to discuss what Nigeria will get from the budget. That would be going too far, because my colleagues and I are still discussing it,” he said.
Ibrahim also highlighted the UN’s investments across Africa, citing the construction of a $260 million conference centre in Kenya as an example of the organisation’s development initiatives and their potential economic benefits.
“A lot is happening. As of today, the United Nations is building a $260 million conference centre in Kenya. You can see what that means,” he said
