President Bola Tinubu has called for at least two permanent seats for Africa on the United Nations Security Council, with veto powers, arguing that the existing structure no longer reflects the current distribution of global power.
Tinubu made the demand on Thursday while delivering his address to the General Debate of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The address was delivered on his behalf by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who also called for five non-permanent seats for Africa on the Security Council.
Tinubu said reform of the UN should begin with restructuring the Security Council, arguing that Africa should not continue contributing to the council’s agenda while lacking 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 ready to assume greater responsibility in international peace and security, pointing to its contributions to peacekeeping and mediation efforts across the continent.
He cited Nigeria’s involvement in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Darfur, Mali and The Gambia, while noting that the country continues to promote mediation, democratic governance, counter-terrorism and maritime security through ECOWAS, the African Union and Gulf of Guinea partnerships.
On climate change, Tinubu rejected what he described as a false choice between economic development and climate action, saying developing countries require support to industrialise while cutting 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 targets net-zero emissions by 2060 while seeking to expand access to affordable and reliable energy.
He said the plan incorporates renewable energy, clean cooking and gas as a transitional fuel, alongside climate-smart agriculture and nature-based solutions.
The President also called for international climate financing to be guided by 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 urged responsible use of the technology, noting that it could be deployed for harmful purposes or used to improve people’s 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 also invited international partners to work with Nigerian youths to channel artificial intelligence 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 called for reforms to the international financial system, saying inadequate financing remains a major obstacle 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.”
Tinubu said Nigeria also supports innovative financing through private capital, blended finance, South-South cooperation and strategic partnerships for sustainable development, climate adaptation and resilient infrastructure.
He highlighted the African Continental Free Trade Area as an opportunity to strengthen regional value chains, expand intra-African trade and promote industrialisation.
Tinubu said Africa must move beyond the export of raw materials and concentrate on value addition, manufacturing, technological innovation and knowledge-driven growth.
“Our abundant natural resources must become engines of shared prosperity rather than sources of perpetual dependency.”
On security, Tinubu said Nigeria’s experience in combating Boko Haram, ISWAP and other armed groups had demonstrated that military victories alone could not guarantee lasting peace.
“Nigeria’s prolonged struggle against Boko Haram, ISWAP and other armed groups has taught us that military victories require enduring foundations in education, economic opportunity, accountable governance and communities whose rights and dignity are protected. Development cannot take root where violence repeatedly uproots livelihoods, and peace cannot endure where injustice and exclusion replenish the ranks of those who threaten it.”
He called for stronger international cooperation to tackle terrorism, organised crime, cyberattacks and illicit financial flows.
Tinubu also expressed concern over continuing conflicts in Sudan and other war-affected countries, calling for urgent diplomacy and the protection of civilians.
“All parties must uphold international humanitarian and human rights law, protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian access. Negotiated settlements must respect sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
The President said Nigeria remained committed to resolving disputes peacefully under the UN Charter and called for stronger peacekeeping, peacebuilding, mediation and institution-building efforts.
“We place our faith in diplomacy because military victories alone cannot secure lasting peace.”
Tinubu further urged greater recognition of Africa’s contribution to global development, describing the continent as having the potential to become a major driver of global growth.
“Developing countries must be recognised as indispensable partners whose contributions to global solutions and shared prosperity extend far beyond their need for assistance.”
He said the UN must evolve to reflect the aspirations of current and future generations, warning that institutions that fail to adapt risk losing their relevance.
Tinubu said Nigeria would continue to promote cooperation, dialogue and partnership among nations.
“Nigeria pledges to choose cooperation over confrontation, dialogue over division, hope over fear and partnership over isolation.”
Concluding the address, the President said a reformed UN remained essential to achieving global peace and sustainable development.
“A reformed, inclusive and effective United Nations is indispensable to the peaceful, just and sustainable world that future generations deserve. Whatever our differences, we must remember that humanity is our oldest citizenship, and peace is the inheritance we owe every child.”
The demand comes amid renewed calls for reform of the UN Security Council, with Secretary-General António Guterres describing Africa’s continued absence from permanent membership as “unjust and indefensible”. Guterres has called for the council to be reformed to reflect the present-day global order.
He said, “We must reform the Council so that it reflects today’s world with the legitimacy and effectiveness that today’s challenges demand.”
The 15-member Security Council currently has five permanent members — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States — all of which have veto powers. The African Union has long sought at least two permanent seats with full privileges, including veto power if the veto is retained, as well as five non-permanent seats.
Guterres has repeatedly backed reforms of global institutions to reflect current geopolitical realities. His latest calls have again highlighted Africa’s lack of permanent representation on the Security Council.