Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has renewed calls for at least two permanent African seats on the UN Security Council, with full membership rights including veto powers….reports Africa Daily News Desk
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has renewed calls for a major reform of the United Nations, demanding permanent African representation on the Security Council.
Tinubu made the call in an address delivered by Vice President Kashim Shettima during the General Debate of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
He said reform should begin with restructuring the Security Council, arguing that the distribution of power established in 1945 no longer reflected the realities of the world in 2026.
“Africa cannot continue to fill the Council’s agenda while remaining absent from its permanent membership,” Tinubu said.
Nigeria is seeking at least two permanent seats for Africa, with the full rights and responsibilities of permanent membership, including veto powers for as long as the veto remains part of the Council’s structure. It is also calling for five non permanent seats for the continent.
Tinubu said the demand was consistent with the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, two African positions on reform of the Security Council.
“The authority to speak for humanity carries an obligation to represent it,” he said.
The call comes as the issue of African representation remains a focus of wider discussions on reforming the Security Council. UN Secretary General António Guterres also highlighted Africa’s underrepresentation in his opening address to the 81st General Assembly, calling for a Council that better reflects current geopolitical realities.
Tinubu also called on world leaders to take stronger action to end conflicts around the world and reject what he described as a rising tide of nationalism.
He said the persistence of conflicts underlined the original purpose of the United Nations, which was established to prevent future generations from suffering the devastation of war.
Nigeria, he said, remained committed to the principles of the UN Charter, including dialogue, mutual respect, collective responsibility and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
Tinubu also said Nigeria was prepared to continue contributing to peace and security efforts in Africa through regional and international partnerships.
His address further called for greater international action on climate change and reforms to the global financial system, including improved access to concessional finance and debt sustainability measures for developing countries.
