Nigeria renews call for permanent African seats on UN Security Council
Addressing the 81st United Nations General Assembly through Vice President Kashim Shettima, Nigeria called for at least two permanent African seats on the Security Council, with veto rights while the veto exists. The address also covered conflicts, climate finance, energy access and artificial intelligence.
Nigeria has called for a restructuring of the United Nations Security Council, including permanent representation for Africa, in an address to the 81st General Assembly in New York. President Bola Tinubu was represented at the session by Vice President Kashim Shettima, according to the address released by Channels Television. Nigeria said Africa should receive at least two permanent seats, with the rights and responsibilities of permanent membership, including the veto for as long as that power remains.
It also sought five non-permanent African seats in total. The address argued that the current council structure reflects the distribution of power in 1945 rather than the contemporary world. Nigeria said it was ready to accept greater responsibility, citing contributions to peace efforts in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Darfur, Mali and The Gambia, as well as work through ECOWAS, the African Union and Gulf of Guinea partnerships.
On development and climate, Nigeria rejected a choice between industrialisation and climate action. It reaffirmed commitment to the Paris Agreement and a net-zero target for 2060, while supporting renewable energy, clean cooking, gas as a transitional fuel, climate-smart agriculture and nature-based solutions. It called for technology transfer, capacity building and predictable climate finance for developing countries.
The address also urged international cooperation on artificial intelligence. Nigeria said it was investing in digital public infrastructure, broadband, innovation, research and technology entrepreneurship, and called for AI to be directed towards healthcare, agriculture, governance and productivity rather than warfare.
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