President Bola Tinubu has demanded at least two permanent seats for Africa on the United Nations Security Council, with veto powers, saying the current structure no longer reflects the distribution of global power.
Tinubu made the demand on Thursday in his address to the General Debate of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The President’s address, delivered by Vice President Kashim Shettima, also called for five non-permanent seats for Africa on the Security Council.
He said the reform of the global body must begin with restructuring the Security Council, arguing that Africa could not continue to contribute to the council’s agenda without having permanent representation.
“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. 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 authority to speak for humanity carries an obligation to represent it.”
Tinubu 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, the President rejected what he described as a false choice between development and climate action, saying 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.
“Africa contributes less than four per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, yet bears disproportionate consequences. Nigeria remains committed to the Paris Agreement and an equitable energy transition that reflects historical responsibility and capacity while protecting people’s right to development.”
Tinubu said Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan was targeting net-zero emissions by 2060 while expanding access to affordable and reliable energy.
He said the plan combined renewable energy, clean cooking and gas as a transitional fuel with climate-smart agriculture and nature-based solutions.
The President 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.”
On artificial intelligence, Tinubu called for responsible deployment of the technology, saying it could be used either for destructive purposes or to improve lives.
“We refuse to surrender our technological future to paranoia. An invention can be destructive or beneficial, depending on the purposes it serves and the judgement of those who use it. A knife can take a life in the hands of an assailant and save one in the hands of a surgeon. We can deploy artificial intelligence to wage war or use it to transform healthcare, education, agriculture, governance and economic productivity.
“Much of the anxiety surrounding AI reflects the distrust we have allowed to grow among us.”
He said Nigeria was investing in digital public infrastructure, broadband connectivity, innovation ecosystems, research institutions and technology entrepreneurship.
Tinubu invited international partners to collaborate with Nigerian youths in directing AI towards development.
“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.”
The President also called for reforms to the international financial system, saying inadequate financing remained one of the biggest obstacles 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.”
