President Bola Tinubu has renewed Nigeria’s call for a major overhaul of the United Nations Security Council, demanding at least two permanent seats for Africa alongside five non-permanent seats.
Tinubu made the demand on Thursday in his address to the General Debate of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, which was delivered by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The President argued that the composition of the Security Council no longer reflected the global balance of power, noting that Africa remained without permanent representation despite its growing population, economic importance and contributions to international peace and security.
Nigeria’s position is aligned with the African Union’s Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration, which seek at least two permanent African seats with the same rights and responsibilities as other permanent members, including veto powers for as long as the veto remains part of the council’s structure.
Tinubu also called for five non-permanent seats for Africa, stressing that the continent should have a stronger role in decisions affecting global peace and security.
He cited Nigeria’s involvement in peacekeeping and mediation efforts in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Darfur, Mali and The Gambia as evidence of the country’s contribution to international security.
The President also used the address to push for changes to the international financial system, greater climate financing for developing countries and increased access to concessional funding.
On climate change, he said developing countries should be able to pursue industrialisation and poverty reduction while transitioning to cleaner sources of energy.
Tinubu said Nigeria remained committed to its target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2060 through its Energy Transition Plan, which includes renewable energy, clean cooking, gas as a transitional fuel, climate-smart agriculture and nature-based solutions.
He also highlighted the African Continental Free Trade Area as an avenue for expanding intra-African trade, strengthening regional value chains and promoting industrialisation.
The President said African countries needed to shift from exporting raw materials towards value addition, manufacturing, technological innovation and knowledge-based economic growth.
On security, Tinubu said Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram, ISWAP and other armed groups had demonstrated the limits of military solutions without improvements in education, economic opportunities, governance and protection of citizens’ rights.
He called for stronger international cooperation against terrorism, organised crime, cyberattacks and illicit financial flows.
Tinubu also urged greater diplomatic efforts to resolve conflicts, particularly in Sudan, while calling for the protection of civilians and humanitarian access in conflict zones.
His call for Security Council reform came as UN Secretary-General António Guterres renewed his support for greater African representation in the body.
The 15-member Security Council currently has five permanent members — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States — all of which possess veto powers.
African countries have long pushed for permanent representation, arguing that the council’s structure remains largely based on the geopolitical realities of 1945 rather than the contemporary international order.
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