UNGA 81: Nigeria demands permanent African seats on Security Council

Nigeria has renewed its call for urgent reform of the United Nations Security Council, demanding at least two permanent seats for Africa with full rights, including veto power for as long as the veto remains in existence.

The position was contained in President Bola Tinubu’s national statement delivered by Vice President Kashim Shettima during the general debate of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.

Nigeria also called for five non-permanent seats for Africa, in line with the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration.

Tinubu said the current structure of the Security Council was no longer representative of global realities, arguing that the world of 2026 should not continue to operate under a power arrangement established in 1945.

The President reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to multilateralism, saying diplomacy, international cooperation and respect for international law should take precedence over coercion, isolation and arbitrary use of power.

He also expressed Nigeria’s readiness to assume greater responsibilities in global affairs, citing the country’s decades of peacekeeping, mediation and security interventions across Africa, including in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Darfur, Mali and The Gambia.

On the economy, Tinubu linked Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives to ongoing domestic reforms, stressing the importance of sound macroeconomic management, stronger institutions, strategic investments and private-sector development.

He also called for changes to the international financial system, including greater access to concessional financing and debt arrangements that would enable developing countries to invest more in education, healthcare and infrastructure.

Climate action, energy transition

Tinubu rejected what he described as a false choice between economic development and climate action, arguing that developing countries should be able to industrialise, reduce poverty and expand energy access while pursuing lower-carbon growth.

He called for predictable climate financing, technology transfer and capacity building, stressing that climate responsibility should be guided by equity and shared responsibility.

Nigeria, he said, remained committed to its Energy Transition Plan and net-zero target for 2060, with the strategy including renewable energy, clean cooking, gas as a transition fuel, climate-smart agriculture and nature-based solutions.

The President also urged the international community to embrace artificial intelligence as a tool for development rather than surrendering its potential to fear.

He said Nigeria was seeking greater investment in digital public infrastructure, broadband, research and technology entrepreneurship while creating opportunities for its youthful population to participate in the global digital economy.

Africa’s economic transformation

Tinubu identified the African Continental Free Trade Area as a major platform for transforming the continent’s economy.

He called for Africa to move beyond dependence on raw-material exports by expanding local processing, manufacturing, innovation and knowledge-based industries.

On security, Nigeria called for enhanced intelligence sharing, stronger measures against terrorist financing and tighter controls on illicit arms flows.

Tinubu also argued that military action alone could not provide lasting solutions to insecurity, saying security efforts must be complemented by education, economic opportunities, accountable governance and social inclusion.

The President further called for urgent diplomatic efforts to end conflicts in Sudan and other troubled regions, with emphasis on protecting civilians, ensuring humanitarian access and upholding international law.

He said Nigeria would continue to favour cooperation over confrontation, dialogue over division and partnership over isolation, maintaining that a reformed and inclusive United Nations remained essential to global peace, justice and sustainable development.