Nigeria has called for at least two permanent seats for Africa on the United Nations Security Council, with veto powers for as long as the privilege remains in place.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima made the demand while delivering President Bola Tinubu’s national statement at the 81st UN General Assembly in New York.
He also called for five non-permanent seats for Africa, in line with the continent’s longstanding common position on reforming the Council.
Shettima said the Council’s current structure no longer reflected contemporary geopolitical realities and had weakened the legitimacy of global decision-making.
“The world of 2026 cannot remain captive to the distribution of power in 1945,” he said.
He said Africa could no longer remain outside permanent membership while issues concerning the continent continued to feature prominently on the Council’s agenda.
According to him, Nigeria’s position was consistent with the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration, which constitute the Common African Position on Security Council reform.
Under the proposal, Africa seeks at least two permanent seats with the same privileges enjoyed by existing permanent members, as well as five non-permanent seats.
The African Union reaffirmed the demand in May, describing Africa’s exclusion from permanent representation as a historical imbalance requiring correction.
Shettima said institutions claiming authority to act on behalf of humanity must adequately represent the people affected by their decisions.
He linked Security Council reform to efforts to restore confidence in multilateralism amid growing geopolitical divisions.
The Vice-President also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the UN Charter and international cooperation, saying the country supported an international system where diplomacy takes precedence over coercion and international law guides relations among states.
He recalled Nigeria’s contributions to international and regional peace operations in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Darfur, Mali and The Gambia.
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Shettima said Nigeria continued to work through ECOWAS, the African Union and Gulf of Guinea mechanisms on mediation, counter-terrorism, democratic governance and maritime security.
He said persistent conflicts around the world underscored the need to return to dialogue, collective responsibility and peaceful settlement of disputes.
The Vice-President identified the conflict in Sudan and other theatres as requiring urgent diplomatic action because of their humanitarian, economic and geopolitical consequences.
He also warned against a global environment in which propaganda blurred distinctions between victims and aggressors and complicated accountability.
Shettima maintained that an inclusive and effective UN remained indispensable to global peace and sustainable development.
The Security Council currently has five permanent members China, France, Russia, the UK and the US, all of which have veto powers. Africa has no permanent seat.
The African Union’s preferred reform model provides for at least two permanent African seats, including veto rights for as long as existing permanent members retain the privilege, alongside five non-permanent seats.
Shettima said Nigeria remained committed to a multilateral order capable of responding more credibly to 21st-century realities.
He added that differences among nations must not obscure their shared humanity and collective responsibility to preserve peace for future generations.
