Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Jimoh Ibrahim, has directed the Permanent Mission of Nigeria in New York to open a bank account with within seven days.

Mr Ibrahim issued the directive during a meeting with officials of the bank in New York City, describing the absence of any banking relationship between the Nigerian Mission and UBA after more than four decades as unacceptable.

According to a statement released by his media office in New York, the envoy expressed surprise that despite both institutions operating in the city for over 42 years, the mission had no official account with the Nigerian-owned financial institution.

Mr Ibrahim said he discovered the situation while reviewing the mission’s financial records and questioning the Financial Attaché about UBA’s presence in New York.

He linked the directive to the Federal Government’s emphasis on local content development and stronger collaboration between public institutions and indigenous private sector organisations abroad.

The envoy stated that President Bola Tinubu would expect closer cooperation between Nigerian government agencies and local businesses operating internationally.

He added that establishing the banking relationship would improve transparency, accountability, and institutional support between both organisations.

Mr Ibrahim also encouraged Nigerian private sector operators abroad to engage more actively with the Nigerian Mission in New York, describing the Mission House as a platform for investment and collaboration opportunities.

Responding during the meeting, the Chief Operating Officer of UBA New York, Osilama Idokogi, commended the envoy for promoting Nigerian institutions internationally.

Mr Idokogi said the bank welcomed the decision and noted that previous efforts to establish formal banking relations with the Nigerian Mission had not been successful.