President Bola Tinubu has urged for significant reforms in the United Nations (UN) Security Council, advocating for permanent seats for Nigeria and other African nations. Speaking at the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Tinubu highlighted the need for the UN to evolve to reflect global diversity, ensuring its relevance and credibility in a changing world.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Tinubu argued that Africa deserves a permanent seat on the Security Council with equal rights and responsibilities as other permanent members. He acknowledged tentative support from some current members for these reforms and called for an expedited process.
Tinubu also emphasized the importance of multilateralism, urging global leaders to prioritize inclusivity, cooperation, and equality. He highlighted that global challenges like terrorism, climate change, poverty, and debt crises require collective action, warning that the rise of nationalism undermines peaceful resolutions to these pressing issues.
Additionally, Tinubu expressed concern over the resurgence of unconstitutional government changes and military coups in some African nations, attributing these to the absence of economic development, peace, and security. He called for international cooperation to address these challenges and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to multilateralism and the strengthening of democracy across Africa.
