TRUETELLS Nigeria reports that prominent human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has called on the Nigerian government to collaborate with other nations to mount diplomatic pressure on the United States over its actions in the ongoing tensions involving Iran and Israel.
Falana made the appeal during an appearance on the Politics Today programme aired on Channels Television on Thursday.
During the interview, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria criticised the conduct of U.S. President Donald Trump, accusing him of disregarding international law and ignoring resolutions of the United Nations.
According to Falana, Trump has demonstrated a lack of respect for global legal frameworks, noting that the United States has withdrawn from numerous United Nations resolutions under his leadership.
He urged the Nigerian government to revive its tradition of multilateral diplomacy by working with other countries, similar to the role Nigeria played during the era of the Non-Aligned Movement.
Falana stressed that through strong international collaboration, nations could exert pressure on Washington to respect international agreements and adopt a more restrained approach in the Middle East crisis.
He further advised that influential global powers such as Russia and China should be encouraged to intervene diplomatically, arguing that both countries wield considerable influence over Iran and could help de-escalate the situation.
Beyond the geopolitical concerns, Falana also used the opportunity to call for stronger internal reforms in Nigeria. He emphasised the need for the country to strengthen its security institutions, warning against relying on foreign powers for national stability.
He said Nigeria must invest more in equipping its armed forces and police, adding that no foreign country would guarantee law and order within Nigeria’s borders.
Falana also criticised the state of Nigeria’s refining sector, questioning why the country’s four government-owned refineries remain largely inactive despite billions of dollars reportedly spent on their rehabilitation.
He expressed concern that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited now depends heavily on the Dangote Refinery for fuel supply, despite significant public funds previously allocated for the maintenance of state refineries.
