GENERAL STATEMENT

BY

HIS EXCELLENCY, P.I. AYEWOH,

AMBASSADOR, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO THE

UNITED NATIONS IN GENEVA OF THE FEDERAL

REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA,

AT THE

THIRD UN CONFERENCE ON THE LEAST

DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

BRUSSELS 15 MAY 2001

(check against delivery)

Mr. President,

I warmly extend hearty congratulations to you, on your unanimous election as President of the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDCIII). Your diplomatic credentials and the steadfast commitment of your country, Belgium, as one of the development partners of the developing countries and which is hosting this Conference, give us hope that LDC III will achieve concrete results. Nigeria is also appreciative of the excellent organisation, preparatory works and documentation carried out by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Mr. President,

In 1971, some 30 years ago, when the international community recognised the existence of the Least Developed Countries as a category of countries distinct in their profound poverty and acute weaknesses in human development, limited access to technology and capital, among other factors, the LDCs then comprised of some 25 countries in Africa, Asia/Pacific, and Latin America. By 1990, the list has grown to 42 countries with a population of over 610 million people. By March 2001, the list of the LDCs has further increased to 49 countries, with the grim prospects that some countries could soon join the growing numbers, unless drastic action is taken by the international community to decisively arrest and reverse the slide.

For Nigeria and Africa as a whole, this development is frightening. Out of the 49 LDCs, Africa has the highest number-34 countries. In our sub-region in West Africa, out of 16 members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), 13 are listed as LDC's, representing the single sub-region with the highest LDC's in the whole World. In the wider context of the totality of numbers, all the 49 LDCs without exception, belong to the G77.

Mr. President,

Nigeria thus fervently believes that the past Programmes of Action must be completely overhauled because they have evidently failed to uproot socioeconomic deterioration in the developing countries in general, and the LDCs in particular. This Conference must, therefore, first identify the fundamental causes of the systemic failures of the past, and devise appropriate measures and modalities for accelerated sustainable development of LDCs with a view to ensuring their rapid integration into the World economy.

Mr. President,

While it is true that most developing countries, including Nigeria, are not classified as LDCs, the reality stares many of our countries in the face that we unhappily share some, if not all, the characteristics of the LDCs , namely, extreme low level of income, ii low degree of industrialisation and capital development, high-level of export concentration often on one or two primary products, high level of vulnerability to external shocks, and above all, per capital income of less than Seven hundred and Ninety-nine US dollars.($799)

However, we should not easily forget the fact that the LDCs and many developing countries are today shackled by these debilitating characteristics not out of their own choice or inherent incapacity to develop. Rather, these factors have deep roots in decades, sometime centuries, of oppressive colonial domination and harrowing socioeconomic exploitation, with their attendant developmental setbacks in practically all fields of endeavour. Starting from Cape Verde to Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa, to Haiti in Latin America, Cambodia and Solomon Islands in Asia/Pacific, is it any wonder that the LDCs of today represent some of the worst, most inhuman, and devastating colonial experiences in human history? That is why rather than be expected to wallow in selfpity or begging for crumbs from the rich man's table, the LDCs and indeed the countries must be consciously assisted to come out from the quagmire and cesspit of under-development resulting from historical and other forces beyond our control. Even today, as producers of primary agricultural products, with low level of industrialisation, and largely uneducated population, the global scale is skewed against the developing countries in terms óf access to science and technology, human resource development and capital, among other factors.

Mr. President,

This was why the G77 at its first-ever South Summit of the Heads of State/Government held last year in Cuba, adopted the Declaration of the South Summit and the Havana Plan of Action aimed at redressing the marginalisation of the developing countries. The areas identified by the South Summit remain critical to the development of the developing countriesi and the LDCs. In the view of the Nigerian delegation, these areas should constitute the focal points of our attention at this Conference. These include the impact of globalisation on our poor countries, the challenges of poverty and its eradication, impact of conflict on development, information technology and bridging the digital divide, inequitable international trading system, declining Official Development Assistance (ODA) and insufficient flow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for development. Others are the challenges of pandemic diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases, underdevelopment of human resources and education; reform of the international financial architecture, protection of the environment, the debt burden on our economies, and lastly, corruption and looted funds from developing countries most of which are stashed away in rich countries.

Since the return of democratic rule in May 1999, in Nigeria, the civilian administration has been striving to enthrone civil liberties, human rights, good governance, accountability and transparency in national affairs.

Education, development of infrastructure, health-care delivery, employment, environmental protection, and the general welfare of our people are being improved. Political stability, peace and progress have returned after years of military rule. In our West African sub-region, the ECOWAS fast-track initiative aimed at accelerating the economic cooperation and integration of our countries have gained momentum through the achievement of borderless zone and free trade area. Also conflict situations in some parts of-the sub-region are giving way to mediation, conciliation and political pluralism. In our continent, Nigeria in concert with other OAU MemberStates have intensified efforts to douse areas of tension or armed conflicts. In other areas, the recent African Summit on Malaria and HIV/AIDS held during the last week of April in Abuja, attests to our determination to rid the Continent of the scourge of these diseases

However, as we are all in the same global village with a common destiny, the challenges of development in the New Millennium are so enormous today than at any time in the past and cannot be left to individual countries or groups of countries alone to solve. This therefore require a meaningful compact between the developing countries, whose ranks form all the 49 LDCs, and the rich industrialised nations. They must be joined by other stake holders such as the international financial institutions, Non-Governmental Organisations, and the other segments of the international community to formulate, adopt and implement effective strategies to roll back underdevelopment.

As the Conference progresses, the Nigerian delegation will make further proposals and submissions on the key areas earlier mentioned in order to enrich our discussions and to arrive at meaningful decisions.

I thank you.

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