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(CheckAgainst Delivery)

STATEMENT
BY

IFEYINWA ANGELA NWORGU MINISTER
NATIONS MISSIONOF NIGERIA TO THE LTNITED PERMANENT

AT THE

SIXTH COMMITTEE GENERAL DEBATE ON AGENDA ITEM IO8: MEASURES TO E,LIMINATE INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM 62ND OF SE,SSION THE UNITED NATIONS GENE,RALASSEMBLY

I1, NEY YORK,OCTOBER 2OO7

Mr. Chairman, It is my pleasure on behalf of my delegation to congratulateyou and the other members of the Bureauon your election.Please assured our full supportand cooperation. be of My delegation aligns itself with the statementdelivered on behalf of the African Group and the Non-Aligned Movement. We thank the Secretary-Generalfor his report and would like to express oru appreciation of the efforts of the Ad Hoc Committee establishedby General Assembly resolution 5ll2l0 of 17 December 1996 towards the finalization of the draft Comprehensive Convention on intemationalterrorism. We also support the convening under the auspices of the United Nations of a high-level conference in this regard. We believe that these steps will constitute an important addition to the counter-terrorismlegal framework establishedby the existing universal instruments. Mr. Chairman, Terrorism is a global threat that requiresa global and comprehensive response. The 13 LIN Conventions and Protocols against terrorism together with Security Council resolutions 1267 (1999), 1373 (2001) and 1540 (2004) as well as other relevant resolutionsprovide the legal framework for multilateral action. In September 2006, the General Assembly and UN Member States demonstratedtheir unity and resolve to combat terrorism by adopting the tIN Global Counter-TerrorismStrategyby consensus signifying the internationalcommunity's unity of purposeand commitmentin this regard. Terrorism can never be justified. Nigeria therefore unequivocally condemnsall acts of terrorism. We have also taken bold stepsin our efforts to combat the menacenationally, regionally and globally. Nigeria has signed 12 andratified 10 of the l3 major multilateral international conventions relating to the prevention and suppression of international terrorism and efforts are underway to ratifr the remaining 3. Nigeria's Prevention of Terrorism Bill (PTB) has been presented our National Assembly. When passedinto to law, the PTB will among other offencesalso criminalize incitementas a meansof support for terrorism, thereby conforming to Security Council resolution 1624 (2005). Pending the enactmentof the PTB, the generalcounter-terrorismlegislation is containedin the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) Act, the Criminal and PenalCodes covering offences related to terrorism and their frnancing, financial malpractice, abduction, kidnapping and obstructing of aircraft. Mr. Chairman, In 2003, Nigeria ratified the 1999 InternationalConvention for the suppression the of Financing of Terrorism. Money launderingis criminalized under the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act (2004). The EFCC Act (and the PTB) provide for the freezing of accountsand funds, financial assets and other economicresources suspected of terrorists. These provisions are being vigorously enforced. So far, some convictions have been recordedon acts of terrorism and assets 4 companieshave been frozen in compliance of with tlN resolution 1267. Four counter-terrorismcentershave been set up across the

country. The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit G\fFIU) became operational in 2005 reports and and has since then receivedand dealt with over 2000 suspicioustransactions has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with many other FIUs around the world for purposes of sharing information and data. The Nigerian Central Bank has restructuredthe banking sector and regularly inspectsall banks for anti-money laundering and the financing of terrorism purposes.This has been supportedwith the deployment of the Enhanced Financial Analysis and Surveillance Systems (e-FASS) which is a webbased reporting application jointly implemented by the CBN and the Nigeria Deposit InsuranceCorporation Q.{DIC). Mr. Chairman, In addition, the Nigeria Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) has established integrity units within each law enforcement agency to prevent as well as investigate corruption. For coordination, law enforcementagenciessuch as the State Security Service, the National Intelligence Agency, the Police, Immigration, Customs, etc, meet monthly under the Joint IntelligenceBoard (JIB). For intemationalcooperation, bilateral and multi-lateraltreatiesare relied upon to deny safehavento terrorists. In this regard, Nigeria has entered into bilateral agreementson mutual legal assistance and extradition with many countries for the apprehensionand trial of alleged terrorists and other criminals. Other bilateral agreementshave also been enteredinto in the aviation sector to ensure aviation safety. Nigeria cooperatesextensively with the UN Counter Terrorism Committee whose Executive Directorate has conducted country visits to Nigeria, the last of which was between 13 and 17 November 2006. The visits are veritable avenuesfor the goverrrmentand the committee to review Nigeria's efforts in the war against terror and to consider fuither steps to enhance it. These efforts should be continued and we urse other nations to take advantaseof this facilitv. Mr. Chairman, The international community unanimously set itself high and lofty goals under the llN "Measures to address the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. Under the Strategy's conditions conducive to the spreadof terrorism", Member Statesamong other things justice, national and religioustolerance,to pursue resolvedto promote a culture of peace, and reinforce development and social inclusion agendasat every level as goals in themselves,etc. We consider the foregoing provisions as fundamentalbecausefor the governmentand people of Nigeria, a successful war againstterrorismhas to be premised on a well conceived and systematicallyexecuted elimination of the root causes.This conviction informed the on-going inter-faith dialogue in Nigeria, coordinated through Inter-Faith Committees set up nationwide. The inclusive nature of the Nigerian administration is aimed at the elimination of marginalization and the attendant senseof victimization that insinuatesextremism and the recruitment of terrorists.

Mr. Chairman, We welcome the Secretary-General'saction in setting up the UN Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force which is charged with ensuring overall co-ordination and coherencein the UN system's counter-terrorismefforts. The 23 bodies of the Task Force constitute the key actors of the IIN system meant to effectively coordinate the fight against terrorism. However, to ensure optimal attainment of its objectives, efforts should be made to avoid duplication of functions and working at cross- purposes.As no one is in of immune from the consequences terrorist acts,all of mankind should pool resources a symbiotic manner. As the expert body in this endeavour,the Task Force is expectedto hamess from every country, big or small, whatever qualities, experiences,assets,etc, that could be applied positively in the war. Nigeria believes that there are no big or small nations, no donor or recipient countries in the Counter-Terrorism effort. My delegation therefore wishes to re-assureyou that Nigeria is fully committed to partnering with other Member Statesof the United Nations to decisivelvconfront this menace. I thank you.

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