Iran: Nigeria Must Collaborate With Other Countries To Mount Pressure On Trump — Falana
Falana Urges Nigeria to Pressure U.S. Diplomatically Over Iran–Israel War
Updated March 12, 2026
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has called on Nigeria to work with other nations to apply diplomatic pressure on the United States over its role in the ongoing conflict involving Iran and Israel.
Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), made the remarks during an interview on the Politics Today programme aired on Channels Television.
He urged the Nigerian government to revive its tradition of multilateral diplomacy by collaborating with other countries to promote respect for international law and encourage global powers to intervene in the escalating crisis.
Falana criticised the actions of U.S. President Donald Trump, accusing him of disregarding international law and United Nations resolutions.
“President Trump has no regard and shows contempt for international law. Hence, he has pulled the United States out of about 66 resolutions of the United Nations. To him, the resolutions of the United Nations mean nothing,” Falana said.
Call for Global Diplomatic Intervention
Falana said Nigeria should work with other nations, similar to its diplomatic role during the era of the Non-Aligned Movement, to pressure the United States to respect international legal frameworks.
“Our duty as a country, as we used to do in the past, is to collaborate with other countries. When you talk of the days of non-alignment, we must now move very speedily to collaborate with other countries to mount pressure on Mr Trump,” he said.
He also urged Nigeria to persuade major global powers such as China and Russia to intervene diplomatically, noting that they wield significant influence over Iran.
“We need to persuade China and Russia to intervene because those are the two countries that Iran will listen to,” he added.
Strengthening Nigeria’s Security
Beyond the international crisis, Falana urged Nigeria to strengthen its internal security systems and reduce reliance on foreign powers.
According to him, Nigeria must prioritise strengthening its armed forces and police institutions.
“Nigeria must wake up. We must learn from Iran that unless you reorganise your own country, unless you equip your armed forces and your police force, there is no way an imperialist country like America will guarantee law and order in your country,” he said.
He also reminded the government that Nigerian troops have historically performed well in international peacekeeping missions, including those conducted under the United Nations and the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG).
Concerns Over Nigeria’s Refineries
Falana further criticised Nigeria’s handling of its refining capacity, questioning why the country’s state-owned refineries remain largely non-functional despite huge investments.
He noted that billions of dollars had been spent on rehabilitation projects, yet the country now relies heavily on the Dangote Refinery for fuel supply.
“If we say we have four refineries, nobody is talking about them any longer. The NNPC now solely relies on the Dangote Refinery. Is that how to run a country? About $2.9 billion was spent on the maintenance of our four refineries,” he said.
Escalating Iran–Israel Conflict
Falana’s comments come amid escalating hostilities in the Israel–Iran War (2026), which began on February 28, 2026, following joint airstrikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian targets.
The attacks reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was succeeded by his son Mojtaba Khamenei.
The war has now entered its second week, with continued airstrikes on Iran and missile retaliation by Iran targeting U.S. bases and sites in Israel and several Gulf countries.
Reports indicate that the conflict has caused significant humanitarian damage, with more than 1,300 civilians killed in Iran, over 600 deaths in Lebanon during Israeli strikes on Hezbollah positions, and at least seven U.S. soldiers killed.
Global Economic Impact
The conflict has also disrupted global energy markets. Iran has blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route for global oil supplies, causing crude oil prices to surge above $100 per barrel.
In response, the International Energy Agency announced plans to release about 400 million barrels of crude oil to stabilise global markets.
Diplomatic positions remain sharply divided. Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian said the war would end only if Iran’s rights are recognised and guarantees against future attacks are provided.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender,” while Israeli authorities say military operations will continue as long as necessary.
Effects on Nigeria
The conflict is already affecting Nigeria, where rising global oil prices have contributed to higher fuel costs. Petrol prices have reportedly increased to between ₦1,000 and ₦1,300 per litre, before dropping slightly to around ₦1,075 to ₦1,165 per litre.
The Nigerian government is also evacuating its citizens from the region. The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission said Nigerians in Iran are being escorted across the Armenia border, with no casualties reported so far.
However, many Nigerians remain stranded in Middle Eastern transit hubs due to flight cancellations and regional airspace closures.