Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, has said he deserves commendation for securing a prominent position for the country at the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Ibrahim made the statement while defending his earlier claim that President Bola Tinubu would sit “very close” to United States President Donald Trump at the UNGA in New York.
However, Tinubu did not attend the ongoing General Assembly, with Vice President Kashim Shettima leading Nigeria’s delegation.
Speaking in an interview with Channels Television on Tuesday, Ibrahim explained that Trump did not remain in the seat assigned to him during the session, as the US president reportedly delivered his address before leaving the venue.
“Did Donald Trump sit in the seat that was provided for him? Did he sit there? He sat 27th seat, far away from Nigeria. He didn’t sit there. He came to deliver his lecture to the General Assembly and left from there,” Ibrahim said.
He said Nigeria was allocated the sixth seat in the front row, describing the placement as an important diplomatic achievement.
“If you say President Tinubu was not there, the argument is this: I am the chairman of budget and administration, so I am privileged to see the speaking list this year,” he said.
Ibrahim said around 60 per cent of those listed to speak at the UNGA were represented by foreign ministers or vice presidents instead of heads of state.
He consequently questioned whether Tinubu needed to travel to New York simply to deliver a 15-minute speech.
“Do you want President Tinubu to go into the plane, move down to New York and speak for 15 minutes when 60 per cent of the speaking list are represented by ministers of foreign affairs and vice presidents?” he asked.
Ibrahim also pointed to the absence of leaders from countries such as Kenya, South Africa, China and Russia during the session.
“You have to thank me and commend my effort. I said Nigeria would be in the first seat; was Nigeria not in the first seat? I said Nigeria would sit with Donald Trump; did Donald Trump have a seat in the General Assembly? He didn’t sit for a second,” he said.
He maintained that Nigeria’s front-row position was significant despite Tinubu’s absence.
“Do you think it’s easy for a country to sit at number six in the front row? Don’t you know a country sits at number 193, and your country is sitting at number six; how did I get that?” Ibrahim said.
TRENDING VIDEO: UNGA81: ‘I deserve commendation for securing front-row seat for Nigeria,’ — Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim pic.twitter.com/eRw6RFjQrr
— NewsClick Nigeria Media (@NewsClickng) September 30, 2026