Shettima says Africa’s exclusion from UN Security Council weakens global legitimacy

Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has said Africa’s continued exclusion from permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council undermines the fairness and legitimacy of global governance. Shettima made the remarks during a meeting with UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York. He reaffirmed Nigeria’s support for urgent reform of the organisation.

He said international institutions needed to become more representative, responsive and credible, with global decisions reflecting present geopolitical and demographic realities. According to a statement by his media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, he argued that Africa should not bear the burdens of the international order while being denied an equal role in directing it. The Vice President praised UN Secretary-General António Guterres for supporting a more representative Security Council.

He described Guterres as a defender of international law and human dignity amid conflicts and growing geopolitical tensions. Shettima also warned that diplomacy should not lose sight of civilians affected by war and instability. He cited displaced families, hungry children and people searching for relatives as consequences that should remain central to international decision-making.

Nigeria last Thursday renewed its demand for at least two permanent Security Council seats for Africa, with veto powers, as well as five non-permanent seats. It said the distribution of power should no longer reflect arrangements established in 1945. Mohammed thanked Nigeria and President Bola Tinubu’s administration for their support to the UN and to her office.

Shettima was accompanied by several state governors, the foreign affairs minister and Nigeria’s permanent representative to the UN.