Nigeria has called for Africa to receive at least two permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council, with veto powers retained for as long as the privilege remains available to permanent members.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima made the demand while delivering President Bola Tinubu’s national statement at the 81st UN General Assembly in New York.
Nigeria also backed five non-permanent seats for Africa, reflecting the continent’s longstanding position on reform of the Security Council.
Shettima argued that the Council’s current structure no longer reflected the geopolitical realities of the contemporary world and had weakened confidence in global decision-making.
“The world of 2026 cannot remain captive to the distribution of power in 1945,” he said.
He said Africa should no longer remain outside permanent membership of the Council while issues involving the continent continued to feature prominently in its deliberations.
Shettima said Nigeria’s position was consistent with the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration, which constitute the Common African Position on Security Council reform.
Under the African position, the continent seeks at least two permanent seats with the same privileges enjoyed by existing permanent members, as well as five non-permanent seats.
The Vice-President said the African Union reaffirmed the demand in May, describing Africa’s absence from permanent representation as a historical imbalance that required correction.
He linked reform of the Council to efforts to rebuild confidence in multilateralism amid growing geopolitical divisions.
Shettima also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the UN Charter and international cooperation, saying diplomacy should take precedence over coercion and international law should guide relations between states.
He highlighted Nigeria’s participation in peace operations in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Darfur, Mali and The Gambia, as well as its work through ECOWAS, the African Union and Gulf of Guinea mechanisms.
According to him, Nigeria’s regional efforts include mediation, counter-terrorism, democratic governance and maritime security.
Shettima said continuing conflicts, including the war in Sudan, underscored the need for dialogue, collective responsibility and peaceful settlement of disputes because of their humanitarian, economic and geopolitical consequences.
He also warned that propaganda could blur distinctions between victims and aggressors and make accountability more difficult.
The Vice-President maintained that an inclusive and effective United Nations remained essential to international peace and sustainable development.
The Security Council currently has five permanent members — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States — all of which possess veto powers.
Africa has no permanent seat on the Council, while its preferred reform model seeks at least two permanent seats with veto privileges for as long as existing permanent members retain theirs, alongside five non-permanent seats.
Shettima said Nigeria remained committed to a multilateral system capable of responding to contemporary global challenges and preserving peace for future generations.
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