President Bola Tinubu has formally demanded that the United Nations grant Africa at least two permanent seats on the Security Council, complete with veto powers, arguing that the current structure reflects a world order that no longer exists. The demand was delivered by Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday during the General Debate of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Nigeria's Case for Permanent Representation
Tinubu framed the demand within the terms of the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, both of which outline Africa's collective position on Security Council reform. As reported by The Punch, he called for five non-permanent seats for Africa in addition to the two permanent ones.
"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," Tinubu said.
To back his case, Tinubu pointed to Nigeria's history of involvement in regional peacekeeping, citing missions in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Darfur, Mali and The Gambia. According to PM News, he said Nigeria continues to support mediation, democratic governance, counter-terrorism and maritime security through ECOWAS, the African Union and Gulf of Guinea partnerships, and expressed willingness to take on a larger role in international peace and security.
Climate Change and Artificial Intelligence Address
The President also addressed climate change, rejecting the idea that poorer nations must choose between economic growth and reducing emissions. He noted that Africa produces less than four per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions yet suffers some of the worst climate consequences. Nigeria's Energy Transition Plan, he said, targets net-zero emissions by 2060 through a combination of renewables, clean cooking solutions, gas as a transitional fuel and climate-smart agriculture.
On artificial intelligence, Tinubu urged the global community to pursue responsible deployment of the technology rather than retreat into fear.
"We can deploy artificial intelligence to wage war or use it to transform healthcare, education, agriculture, governance and economic productivity. Much of the anxiety surrounding AI reflects the distrust we have allowed to grow among us," he said. He added that Nigeria was investing in digital infrastructure, broadband and innovation to position its young population at the centre of the technology's development.
Financial Reform and UN Secretary-General's Support
Tinubu also pushed for changes to the international financial system, including wider access to concessional financing and debt relief frameworks suited to developing economies. He highlighted the African Continental Free Trade Area as a path toward value-added manufacturing and reduced dependence on raw material exports.
His address drew additional weight from comments made by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who told world leaders gathered in New York that Africa's exclusion from permanent Security Council membership was "unjust and indefensible." The 15-member council currently has five permanent members — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States — all holding veto powers.
Guterres said, "We must reform the Council so that it reflects today's world with the legitimacy and effectiveness that today's challenges demand."
Atiku Questions Tinubu's UNGA Absence
Meanwhile, Legit.ng also reported that Atiku Abubakar demanded answers from Tinubu after he skipped the UN General Assembly for the third year in a row, sending Shettima in his place. Atiku raised questions about a 1993 US court case in which funds linked to Tinubu were forfeited over alleged connections to narcotics trafficking and money laundering. The statement pointed to a reported $9 million paid to American lobbyists and a reserved seat near Donald Trump that Tinubu did not occupy at the 2026 UNGA.
