President Bola Tinubu has received copies of the proposed 2027 United Nations budget from Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, at the State House, Abuja.

Ibrahim, who chairs the UN committee responsible for budgetary and administrative matters, presented the seven-volume document to the President.

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Speaking with journalists after the presentation, Ibrahim described the occasion as historic, saying it was the first time in 66 years that a Nigerian president had received the proposed UN budget through the process.

He explained that the document, which was presented to the Fifth Committee by the UN Secretary-General, had to be brought to Nigeria because the country is a member of the international organisation.

“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,” Ibrahim said.

He added that Tinubu was making history by becoming the first Nigerian president in 66 years to receive the proposed budget.

According to Ibrahim, the proposed budget covers the UN’s regular activities as well as peacekeeping operations.

He said approximately $3.4 billion was earmarked for the regular budget, while about $8.5 billion was allocated to peacekeeping operations.

Ibrahim put the overall figure at about $14 billion, although the two figures he cited for the components amount to approximately $11.9 billion.

He stressed that the figures were not yet final, as the document remained a proposal awaiting consideration and approval by UN member states.

“The budget still has to be approved. This is a proposed budget. It’s at the proposed stage,” he said.

Ibrahim explained that member states would continue to scrutinise the proposal, with figures potentially adjusted before the final budget is approved and spending begins.

Asked what Nigeria could gain from the proposed budget, he said discussions were still ongoing and declined to give details of any specific benefits.

He also referenced the construction of a $267 million UN conference centre in Kenya as an example of the organisation’s investment in facilities in member states.