Tinubu Demands Permanent UN Security Council Seats for Africa, Veto Rights

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for a radical reform of the United Nations, demanding permanent representation for Africa on the Security Council with full membership rights, including veto power.

Tinubu made the demand in his address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, delivered on his behalf by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

The President argued that the global power structure established in 1945 no longer reflects the realities of the world in 2026, insisting that Africa should no longer remain on the margins of decisions affecting global peace and security.

He said Nigeria supports the African Union’s Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration, calling for at least two permanent seats for Africa, with the full rights and responsibilities of permanent membership, including veto power for as long as the veto remains, as well as five non-permanent seats.

“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.

He also called for an immediate end to armed conflicts around the world and urged nations to return to the principles of dialogue, mutual respect, collective responsibility and international law contained in the UN Charter.

According to him, Nigeria remains committed to peaceful dispute resolution and has demonstrated its commitment to peacekeeping through its interventions in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Darfur, Mali and The Gambia.

Tinubu said Nigeria would continue to support peace, mediation, democratic governance, counter-terrorism and maritime security through platforms including ECOWAS, the African Union and Gulf of Guinea partnerships.

On climate change, the President reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the Paris Agreement and a fair energy transition, arguing that developing countries should be allowed to industrialise, reduce poverty and expand energy access while adopting low-carbon pathways.

He noted that Africa contributes less than four per cent of global emissions but bears a disproportionate share of the consequences of climate change.

Tinubu said Nigeria was working towards net-zero emissions by 2060 under its Energy Transition Plan while pursuing affordable, reliable and sustainable energy.

The President equally demanded reforms to the international financial architecture, including greater access to concessional financing and debt structures that take the development needs of poorer countries into account.

He said excessive debt servicing was diverting resources in many developing countries away from critical sectors such as education, healthcare and infrastructure.

Tinubu also highlighted the growing importance of technology and artificial intelligence, saying Nigeria was expanding digital public infrastructure, broadband deployment and technology entrepreneurship to harness AI for human development.

On global security, he warned that terrorism, cyberattacks and other transnational threats could not be effectively tackled by individual countries acting alone.

He said Nigeria’s experience in confronting Boko Haram, ISWAP and other armed groups demonstrated the need to address the underlying conditions that sustain insecurity, including poverty, lack of economic opportunities, weak governance and human rights concerns.

Tinubu also called for urgent diplomatic action to address conflicts in Sudan and other war-torn countries, warning against a global environment where propaganda could obscure responsibility for violence.

He concluded by stressing that a reformed, inclusive and effective United Nations remained essential to achieving a peaceful, just and sustainable world.

“Whatever our differences, we must remember that humanity is our oldest citizenship, and peace is the inheritance we owe every child,” he said.