Jimoh Ibrahim's False Claims on Nigeria's UN Budget Role

On 19 October, Jimoh Folorunsho Ibrahim, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, presented the seven-volume UN 2027 draft budget to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja. Ibrahim falsely claimed it was the first time in 66 years that Nigeria chaired the UN Budget and Administration Committee, when in fact, Nigeria first chaired it on 22 September 1971 under Ambassador Edward Olu Sanu.

He also stated that President Tinubu was the first Nigerian president in 66 years to receive the UN budget, which is not Nigeria’s budget but that of the 193 UN member countries. Ibrahim's actions raised questions about whether he followed proper protocol by consulting Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Minister, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, before presenting the budget.

This incident marks the second time in three months that Ibrahim has embarrassed Nigeria on the international stage, following a previous false claim about Tinubu's seating arrangement at the UN General Assembly.