President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has renewed calls for a major reform of the United Nations, demanding the reconstitution of the UN Security Council to give Africa permanent representation.
Tinubu made the demand in an address delivered by Vice President Kashim Shettima during the general debate of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States.
The President called for at least two permanent seats for Africa, with full rights and responsibilities, including veto power for as long as the veto remains part of the Council’s structure. He also demanded a total of five non-permanent seats for the continent.
According to Tinubu, the current structure of the Security Council no longer reflects the realities of the modern world.
“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,” he said.
Tinubu also called on world leaders to take urgent steps to end conflicts around the world and reject the growing tide of nationalism, warning that continued warfare threatens the international order.
He urged nations to return to the founding principles of the United Nations Charter, particularly dialogue, mutual respect, collective responsibility and international cooperation.
“The persistence of conflict across the world recalls the purpose for which the United Nations was founded: to spare succeeding generations the devastation of war.
“We must therefore return to the founding principles of dialogue, mutual respect and collective responsibility. Nigeria stands by the Charter and its promise of a world in which diplomacy prevails over coercion, cooperation over isolation and international law over the arbitrary exercise of power,” Tinubu stated.
The President highlighted Nigeria’s contributions to peacekeeping and conflict resolution across Africa, citing the country’s involvement in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Darfur, Mali and The Gambia.
He said Nigeria remains committed to advancing mediation, democratic governance, counter-terrorism and maritime security through platforms including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union and Gulf of Guinea partnerships.
Tinubu also linked Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives to its domestic economic reforms, saying the country was pursuing its sustainable development commitments through macroeconomic management, stronger institutions, private-sector growth and strategic public investment.
He stressed that Nigeria’s development could not be separated from the broader progress and security of Africa, warning that no country could remain insulated from the consequences of global instability.
According to him, governments must confront emerging security and climate challenges rather than assume that national borders can shield countries from the effects of conflicts and other global crises.
He added that public trust in government is ultimately built when policies and decisions translate into improved living conditions for citizens.
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