President Bola Tinubu has called for at least two permanent seats for Africa on the United Nations Security Council, with veto powers, as part of reforms to make the global body’s structure more representative of the current international order.
Tinubu made the demand on Thursday in his address to the General Debate of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
The address was delivered on his behalf by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Tinubu also called for five non-permanent seats for Africa on the Security Council, in line with the common African position expressed through the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration. The African model being discussed in UN reform negotiations calls for at least two permanent seats and five non-permanent seats, with veto rights for the permanent African members if the veto is retained.
“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,” Tinubu said.
“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.”
The President said Nigeria was prepared to take on greater responsibility in international peace and security, citing the country’s contributions to peacekeeping and mediation efforts across Africa.
He listed Nigeria’s involvement in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Darfur, Mali and The Gambia, adding that the country continued to advance mediation, democratic governance, counter-terrorism and maritime security through ECOWAS, the African Union and Gulf of Guinea partnerships.
On climate change, Tinubu rejected what he described as a false choice between development and climate action, arguing that developing countries needed support to industrialise while reducing emissions.
“We reject the false choice between development and climate action. Developing countries must industrialise, eradicate poverty and expand energy access through low-carbon pathways supported by technology transfer, capacity building and climate finance,” he said.
The President said Nigeria remained committed to the Paris Agreement and an equitable energy transition while protecting the country’s development objectives.
He said Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan was targeting net-zero emissions by 2060 while expanding access to affordable and reliable energy.
According to Tinubu, the plan combines renewable energy, clean cooking and gas as a transitional fuel with climate-smart agriculture and nature-based solutions.
He also called for international climate finance to be based on equity and shared responsibility.
“Finance must be governed by equity and shared responsibility rather than charity, with international commitments translated into accessible, predictable and adequately funded mechanisms enabling developing countries to pursue climate action without compromising development objectives,” he said.
On artificial intelligence, Tinubu called for responsible deployment of the technology, saying it could be used either for destructive purposes or to improve lives.
He said Nigeria was investing in digital public infrastructure, broadband connectivity, innovation ecosystems, research institutions and technology entrepreneurship.
“We invite the world to work with our inventive, resourceful and enterprising young people to direct AI towards humanity’s advancement rather than its destruction,” he said.
The President also called for reforms to the international financial system, saying inadequate financing remained a major obstacle to sustainable development.
“Nigeria therefore calls for reform of the international financial architecture, wider access to concessional financing and debt sustainability frameworks that recognise developmental needs,” he said.
He said Nigeria supported innovative financing through private capital, blended finance, South-South cooperation and strategic partnerships for sustainable development, climate adaptation and resilient infrastructure.
Tinubu also highlighted the African Continental Free Trade Area as an opportunity to strengthen regional value chains, increase intra-African trade and promote industrialisation.
He said Africa needed to move beyond exporting raw materials and focus on value addition, manufacturing, technological innovation and knowledge-driven growth.
“Our abundant natural resources must become engines of shared prosperity rather than sources of perpetual dependency,” he said.
On security, Tinubu said Nigeria’s experience in fighting Boko Haram, ISWAP and other armed groups had shown that military victories alone could not guarantee lasting peace.
He called for greater international cooperation against terrorism, organised crime, cyberattacks and illicit finance.
The President also expressed concern over continuing conflicts in Sudan and other war-torn countries, calling for urgent diplomacy and the protection of civilians.
“All parties must uphold international humanitarian and human rights law, protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian access. Negotiated settlements must respect sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he said.
Tinubu said Nigeria remained committed to peaceful dispute settlement under the UN Charter and urged the strengthening of peacekeeping, peacebuilding, mediation and institution-building.
“We place our faith in diplomacy because military victories alone cannot secure lasting peace,” he said.
The President further called for greater recognition of Africa’s contribution to global development, describing the continent as a potential major driver of global growth.
He said developing countries should be recognised as indispensable partners whose contributions to global solutions and shared prosperity extend beyond their need for assistance.
Tinubu said the UN must evolve to reflect the aspirations of present and future generations, warning that institutions that failed to adapt risked losing their relevance.
“Nigeria pledges to choose cooperation over confrontation, dialogue over division, hope over fear and partnership over isolation,” he said.
Concluding the address, the President said a reformed, inclusive and effective United Nations remained necessary for achieving global peace and sustainable development.
“A reformed, inclusive and effective United Nations is indispensable to the peaceful, just and sustainable world that future generations deserve,” he said.
The call comes amid renewed international discussions on reforming the Security Council. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has described the absence of permanent African representation on the Council as “indefensible”, arguing that its composition needs to reflect contemporary geopolitical realities.
The Security Council currently has 15 members, comprising five permanent members — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States — and 10 non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms.
Africa’s common position calls for at least two permanent seats and five non-permanent seats, with full privileges for the permanent members, including veto rights if the veto is retained.
