Nigeria spent $8b on Liberia peace, says Irabor
The Liberian war December 24, 1989 to August 2, 1997 lasted for 7 years, seven months, one week and two days.
Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Lucky Irabor said it cost Nigeria a princely sum of $8 billion to restore peace in Liberia.
The Liberian war December 24, 1989 to August 2, 1997 lasted for 7 years, seven months, one week and two days.
Gen. Irabor spoke yesterday at the event to marking the 75th-year celebration of the United Nations peacekeeping operations.He also said over 200,000 Nigerians troops have served in UN peacekeeping missions worldwide.
Irabor said: “Since the first engagement of troops of our Armed Forces in the Congo in 1960, Nigeria has been unequivocally committed to the principles and objectives of the United Nations. It has significantly contributed to 41 peacekeeping operations worldwide.
“Ever since, over 200,000 Nigerian troops have served in UN peacekeeping missions worldwide and Nigerian senior military officers have commanded some of these missions.
“Similarly, under regional and sub-regional cooperation, Nigeria has been involved in peacekeeping operations in field missions in Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Liberia, Mali, Darfur and Sierra Leone and has contributed a lot in terms of finance, logistics, troops and civilian experts, making her one of the most significant African troops and civilian police contributors to UN missions.
“It is noteworthy that in addition to the loss of lives and injuries to personnel, the ECOMOG, a regional interventionist mediation force advocated to end the protracted Liberian civil war, was operated at an estimated cost of USD 8 billion to the Nigerian government.”
United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, in his message, said no fewer than 4,200 peacemakers have lost their lives while securing peace across the globe.
Also, Gen. Martin Agwai (rtd), who was the special guest of honour, pointed out that the UN Peacekeeping had been a unique and dynamic instrument to help countries in conflict transition to lasting peace.
The Nation Newspaper, Ltd.