President Bola Tinubu is set to advocate for a diplomatic resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict at the Joint Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which begins on Nov. 11, officials said.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, speaking to State House correspondents in Riyadh on Sunday, said Tinubu is committed to pursuing a peaceful outcome.
“President Tinubu is seizing this moment to lend Nigeria’s voice as a significant global player, pushing for a peaceful solution to this issue,” said Idris.
He emphasized Nigeria’s long-standing support for a two-state solution, where Israel and Palestine coexist peacefully within secure borders.
Idris warned that failure to find a diplomatic resolution could escalate the conflict across the region, with global implications.
He underscored Nigeria’s regional influence and deep historical ties to the Middle East as motivations for Tinubu’s engagement at the summit.
Highlighting Tinubu’s commitment to peace, Idris recalled Nigeria’s participation in the Africa-Saudi Summit in November 2023, where the president had joined calls for de-escalation.
“One year later, the loss of lives and destruction have intensified, making a renewed push for negotiations crucial,” he noted.
The EXPLAINER reports that Tinubu departed Abuja on Sunday for the summit, which will center on the Middle East crisis.