Nigeria Renews Demand for Permanent Seat on UN Security Council, Calls for Bold Global Reforms
By ExponentNews , Nigeria Sept. 24, 2025
In a forceful and visionary address at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Nigeria has renewed its longstanding demand for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, calling it a matter of fairness, representation, and necessary reform to restore global trust in multilateralism.
Speaking on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima delivered Nigeria’s national statement on Tuesday, urging the international community to embrace
“real change, change that works, and change that is seen to work.”
“The United Nations will recover its relevance only when it reflects the world as it is, not as it was,” Shettima declared. “Nigeria’s case for a permanent seat at the Security Council is a demand for fairness… a stabilizing force in regional security and a consistent partner in global peacekeeping.”
Four Pillars for Global Reform
Nigeria’s address centered around four key pillars aimed at addressing global inequality and institutional inefficiency:
Security Council Reform: Nigeria reaffirmed its call for Africa’s representation with a permanent seat on the Security Council, noting its demographic, economic, and diplomatic significance as Africa’s most populous nation and a consistent contributor to peacekeeping missions.
Debt Relief and Financial Reform: Shettima proposed the creation of a new, binding international mechanism to manage sovereign debt – likened to an “International Court of Justice for money” – to help emerging economies escape the economic straitjacket of dependency on raw material exports.
Equitable Resource Management:
Nigeria emphasized that countries rich in strategic minerals must benefit from those resources, warning that decades of extractive exploitation have fueled instability. “When we export raw materials, tension, inequality and instability fester,” he said.
. Bridging the Digital Divide: Echoing UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ call for tech equity, Shettima declared: “‘AI’ must stand for ‘Africa Included’.” He proposed a global initiative to promote inclusive digital access and ensure that new technologies uplift rather than marginalize vulnerable communities.
A Call to Reclaim Multilateralism
Shettima struck a tone of urgency and moral clarity, warning that failure to reform global institutions risks alienating developing countries and undermining the very fabric of the multilateral system.
“Some years ago, I noticed a shift… key events were beginning to take place outside this hall, and the most sought-after voices were no longer heads of state. These are troubling signs.”
The Vice-President argued that relevance, not ritual, must define the UN’s next chapter, and endorsed the Secretary-General’s UN80 Initiative as a “bold step” toward a more coherent, efficient international system.
African Leadership on Global Issues
Shettima also highlighted Nigeria’s leadership on peacekeeping, democratic institution-building, and regional stability, citing efforts in the Niger Delta, West Africa, and support for the two-state solution in the Middle East.
“Nigeria comes not as a partisan, but as a peacemaker,” he said, pledging continued support for global peace and human rights. “We do not believe the sanctity of human life should be trapped in the corridors of endless debate.”
Economic Transformation at Home
Domestically, Nigeria is undergoing bold economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies and currency controls, aimed at fostering a market-driven economy. While acknowledging the hardships such transitions bring, Shettima expressed confidence in “the ingenuity and enterprise of the people.”
“Our view is that the path to sustainable peace lies in growth and prosperity.”
Nigeria also called on the UN to align climate finance with national development goals, investing in education, resilient housing, and green technology to empower vulnerable communities and mitigate the impact of climate change.
As the world reflects on the legacy and future of the United Nations at its 80th anniversary, Nigeria’s message was clear: the time for reform is now, and Africa must be given a voice commensurate with its global significance. “For none of us is safe until all of us are safe,” Shettima concluded. “Nigeria dedicates itself fully and without reservation to that noble cause.”
