Tinubu at UNGA: Nigeria Demands Debt Relief, Permanent Security Council Seat, and Global Financial Reform

Nigeria has urged the United Nations and the international community to act decisively on debt relief, trade access, and institutional reforms that will give developing economies a fairer stake in the global order.

Speaking at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Vice President Kashim Shettima – representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the second year in a row – delivered Nigeria’s position before world leaders.

Tinubu called for urgent sovereign debt relief, improved trade opportunities, and a radical restructuring of the global financial system, including the establishment of an international financial court to manage sovereign debt. He stressed that debt relief should not be seen as charity but as a pathway to peace and shared prosperity.

The President also pressed for Nigeria to be granted a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, describing it as a demand for fairness and representation. He argued that Africa’s progress in governance and economic reforms demonstrates readiness for increased participation in global decision-making, while Nigeria’s role as a stabilising force in regional security and peacekeeping strengthens its case.

Tinubu warned that the UN risks irrelevance if it fails to embrace reforms that reflect today’s realities rather than outdated structures. He pointed to the growing gap between the organisation’s words and its actions, citing conflicts and human suffering across the world as stains on collective humanity.

The Nigerian leader also demanded that countries rich in strategic minerals must benefit fairly from their resources through investment, local processing, jobs, and partnerships, noting that exporting raw materials fuels inequality and instability. On digital innovation, he called for urgent action to close the global digital divide, insisting that artificial intelligence must stand for “Africa Included.”

Tinubu highlighted the difficult but necessary economic reforms his administration has undertaken at home, including the removal of subsidies and currency controls. While acknowledging the short-term challenges, he said the changes are vital to unlocking long-term growth and resilience.

On security, he noted that Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and violent extremism has shown that ideology and values deliver more lasting victories than military might. He urged global leaders to strengthen multilateralism and commit fully to peace, unity, development, and human rights, warning that the world’s future is at risk if meaningful action is not taken.

“None of us is safe until all of us are safe,” he said. “We must make real change, change that works, and change that is seen to work. If we fail, the direction of travel is already predictable.”