Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, has said he deserves commendation for securing a prominent front-row position for the country at the 81st United Nations General Assembly.

Ibrahim made the remarks while defending Nigeria’s position at the General Assembly despite President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s absence from the high-level session.

Speaking on a television programme, the envoy said Nigeria occupied the sixth position in the front row of the General Assembly chamber, maintaining that he had fulfilled his earlier promise to secure a prominent seat for the country.

“You have to thank me and commend my effort. I said Nigeria will be in the front seat, was Nigeria not in the front seat?” Ibrahim said.

He explained that the arrangement was significant because Nigeria, despite being one of the 193 UN member states, was positioned at number six in the front row.

Ibrahim also addressed earlier expectations that Tinubu would sit close to United States President Donald Trump during the General Assembly. He noted that Trump delivered his address from the podium and did not remain seated in the chamber afterwards.

According to the envoy, Nigeria therefore retained its prominent position even though Tinubu did not attend the session personally.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima represented Tinubu at UNGA 81 and delivered Nigeria’s national statement, while other senior government officials, including Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, participated in the high-level engagements.

Ibrahim had earlier assured Nigerians that the President’s absence would not affect the country’s participation at the General Assembly, noting that more than 60 per cent of officials scheduled to speak were being represented by vice-presidents or foreign ministers.

The envoy also said it would have been unnecessary for Tinubu to travel to New York for a speech lasting about 15 minutes when other senior officials were representing their respective countries.