Nigeria demanded two permanent United Nations Security Council seats with veto powers for Africa during the 81st UN General Assembly in New York, as leaders renewed long-standing reform campaigns over a global governance structure unchanged since 1945.
Africa’s push to reshape the United Nations took center stage at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where Nigerian Vice-President Kashim Shettima pressed the continent’s demands for permanent representation during the 81st UN General Assembly. Delivering the national statement on behalf of President Bola Tinubu on Thursday, September 24, during the General Debate, Shettima argued that the world of 2026 cannot remain captive to the distribution of power in 1945. Nigeria stands by the charter and its promise of a world in which diplomacy prevails over coercion, cooperation over isolation and international law over arbitrary exercise of power.
Nigeria’s Demand for Permanent African Seats
Nigeria’s position centers on demanding at least two permanent seats for Africa with veto powers for as long as the veto exists, as well as five non-permanent seats for the continent. Ahead of the engagements, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, briefed Vice-President Shettima in New York on the country’s priorities. The briefing reviewed Nigeria’s agenda, expectations, and strategic engagements during the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Mr. Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, disclosed this after the meeting, stating that Nigeria would build on positions advanced during previous UN engagements, particularly its advocacy for reforms that make multilateralism more inclusive, effective, and equitable. South Africa is also pushing for greater African representation on the United Nations Security Council, using ongoing intergovernmental negotiations on UN reform to advance the African Union’s position for permanent representation. This was stated by South Africa’s Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, Ambassador Mxolisi Sizo Nkosi, who spoke to SANews ahead of the start of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, noting that reform of the Security Council remains an important part of South Africa’s agenda as Pretoria seeks to build support for the African position contained in the Ezulwini Consensus.
The Security Council currently comprises 15 members, five permanent members and 10 non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres used his final address to the General Assembly on Tuesday to renew his call for Security Council reform, saying it must become more representative and better reflect today’s geopolitical realities. Ghana’s President John Mahama made a similar appeal, stating that Security Council reform is not a favour to Africa.
G4 Allies and International Support for Council Expansion
The reform push found backing among international allies in New York. Reform of the United Nations Security Council remains a major diplomatic issue during the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. India has reiterated its support for the African model of Security Council reform, while the G4 grouping of India, Brazil, Germany and Japan continues to call for expansion of both permanent and non-permanent membership. The UN’s intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform have continued into the 81st General Assembly session, covering equitable representation, an increase in Council membership and other related questions. India has welcomed the African model presented during the Security Council reform negotiations, describing it during the previous session as a significant development and reiterating support.
On Wednesday, the foreign ministers of Germany, Brazil, India, and Japan met in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to push for reform of the Security Council, stressing the need to improve the representation of underrepresented regions such as Africa and Latin America. In a joint statement, they warned that the Council is not in a position to fulfill its core task of effectively maintaining international peace and security.
Kenyan President William Ruto reinforced the regional demand during his address to the General Assembly on Wednesday, calling for reform of the United Nations Security Council, urging permanent African representation on the body, and lamenting Africa’s continued exclusion from permanent representation, despite accounting for more than a quarter of the assembly.