Nigeria has renewed its call for the reform of the United Nations Security Council, demanding at least two permanent seats for Africa, including veto powers for as long as the privilege remains available to permanent members.
Vice President Kashim Shettima made the demand on Thursday while delivering President Bola Tinubu’s national statement at the General Debate of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
Shettima said the current structure of the Security Council no longer reflects contemporary global realities, arguing that Africa should not continue to feature prominently on the Council’s agenda while remaining excluded from 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 Vice President also called for five non-permanent seats for Africa, restating Nigeria’s position in line with the continent’s longstanding common position on Security Council reform.
Shettima argued that the composition of the Security Council still reflects the distribution of power that existed when the United Nations was established in 1945.
“The world of 2026 cannot remain captive to the distribution of power in 1945,” he said.
He also pointed to Nigeria’s contributions to international peace efforts, citing the country’s involvement in peace operations and interventions in places including Liberia, Sierra Leone, Darfur, Mali and The Gambia.
According to him, Nigeria has continued to contribute to regional peace and security through platforms including the Economic Community of West African States, the African Union and Gulf of Guinea partnerships.
The UN Security Council currently has five permanent members — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States — while Africa has no permanent representative.
The African Union’s Common African Position, reflected in the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration, seeks at least two permanent seats for Africa, with the same privileges enjoyed by existing permanent members, including veto rights if the veto continues to exist.
The reform proposal also seeks five non-permanent seats for the continent.
Nigeria’s latest demand comes amid renewed international discussion over reform of the UN system.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has also called for greater African representation, describing the continent’s continued absence from permanent membership as an imbalance that should be addressed.
Beyond Security Council reform, Shettima used the UNGA address to call for renewed commitment to diplomacy, international law and peaceful resolution of conflicts.
He said the persistence of conflicts around the world demonstrated the need for countries to return to dialogue, mutual respect and collective responsibility.
He also addressed issues including climate change, artificial intelligence, development financing, international trade and insecurity, while calling for reforms that would give developing countries greater access to financing and opportunities for sustainable development.
The demand for permanent African representation, however, remains a proposal requiring broader international negotiations and agreement among UN member states; the 81st General Assembly did not itself create new permanent seats.
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