President Bola Tinubu has demanded at least two permanent seats for Africa on the United Nations Security Council, with veto powers, saying the current structure no longer reflects the global distribution of power.
Tinubu made the demand on Thursday in his address to the General Debate of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The address was delivered on his behalf by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who also called for five non-permanent seats for Africa on the Security Council.
He said the reform of the global body must begin with the restructuring of the Security Council, arguing that Africa cannot continue to contribute to the council’s agenda without permanent representation.
“The reform of this institution must begin with the reconstitution of the Security Council, for the world of 2026 cannot remain captive to the distribution of power in 1945. Africa cannot continue to fill the Council’s agenda while remaining absent from its permanent membership.
“Nigeria demands, in accordance with the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, at least two permanent seats for Africa, with all the rights and responsibilities of permanent membership, including the veto for as long as it exists, and five non-permanent seats in total. The authority to speak for humanity carries an obligation to represent it,” Tinubu said.
He said Nigeria was ready to take on greater responsibility for international peace and security, citing its contributions to peacekeeping and mediation in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Darfur, Mali and The Gambia, as well as its efforts on democratic governance, counter-terrorism and maritime security through ECOWAS, the African Union and Gulf of Guinea partnerships.
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