Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has received the proposed 2027 United Nations budget, in what Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Jimoh Ibrahim, described as the first of such presentation to a Nigerian president in 66 years.
Ibrahim presented the seven-volume budget document to Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on Monday, October 19, 2026. He chairs the UN General Assembly’s Fifth Committee, which handles administrative and budgetary matters.
Speaking to journalists after the presentation, Ibrahim said the document had been submitted to the committee by the UN Secretary-General before being brought to Nigeria for presentation to the President.
“This is the first time in 66 years that Nigeria will share budget in the committee. The first time. So I don’t know when we’re going to do that again in history,” he said.
He added that Tinubu’s receipt of the document marked a significant moment for Nigeria’s engagement with the international organisation.
“President Bola Tinubu is making history to have been able to receive that budget, being the first President in 66 years that will receive such budget from the United Nations, and it’s not a small issue for a country to receive the whole UN budget,” Ibrahim said.
The proposed UN budget covers the organisation’s regular operations and peacekeeping activities. Ibrahim cited approximately $3.4bn for the regular budget and $8.5bn for peacekeeping, while putting the overall proposed budget at about $14bn. The two figures he provided for the main components total $11.9bn, leaving a difference that was not explained in his remarks.
Ibrahim emphasised that the figures remain provisional and are subject to further discussions, adjustments and approval by UN member states before spending can begin.
“The budget still has to be approved. This is a proposed budget. It’s at the proposed stage. You submit it to your country, and thereafter the budget is finally discussed. Figures are adjusted, and then finally the final budget is approved and spending commences,” he said.
Asked what Nigeria stood to gain from the process, Ibrahim said discussions on the proposed budget were still ongoing and declined to specify any direct benefits the country might receive.
He also pointed to the construction of a $267m United Nations conference centre in Kenya as an example of the organisation’s investment in facilities within member states.
The proposed 2027 UN budget will now undergo further scrutiny and possible revisions before member states reach a final decision on the funding required for the organisation’s operations and peacekeeping missions.
