UNGA: Tinubu Demands Permanent UN Security Council Seat for Nigeria

At the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, reignited Nigeria’s long-standing call for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). His appeal was framed not only as a matter of national pride and fairness but also as a necessary reform to restore the credibility of an institution facing mounting criticism for being outdated and unrepresentative.

Tinubu’s message was clear: Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and one of its largest economies, can no longer remain excluded from the inner circle of global decision-making. He insisted that granting Nigeria a permanent seat would help correct historic injustices and bring balance to international governance structures designed in 1945.

When the United Nations was founded in the aftermath of World War II, Nigeria was still a British colony. Decisions about global security, peace, and development were made without its input. At the time, the UN Security Council’s five permanent members — the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia (then USSR), and China — were the recognized victors of the war and architects of the new world order.

Fast forward to 2025, Nigeria has transformed into a sovereign state of over 236 million people, projected to surpass the United States in population by mid-century. It is also a country with one of the youngest populations in the world, a dynamic resource base, and a history of active participation in global peacekeeping.

Tinubu used this historical trajectory to highlight the contradictions of the current system. “When the UN was founded, we were a colony of 20 million people, absent from the tables where decisions about our fate were taken; today, we are a sovereign nation projected to be the third most populous country in the world, with one of the youngest and most dynamic populations on earth,” he said.

In his UNGA address, Tinubu outlined four major points that reflected Nigeria’s broader vision for reforming multilateral institutions:

1. Nigeria must be granted a permanent seat on the UN Security Council as part of a wider process of institutional reform.
2. The international community must take urgent action on sovereign debt relief and fair access to trade and finance for developing nations.
3. Countries that host strategic minerals must benefit directly and equitably from those resources, rather than being locked into exploitative arrangements.
4. The global digital divide must be addressed, with Africa included at the forefront of emerging technologies.

His phrasing on artificial intelligence was particularly striking: “A.I. must stand for Africa Included.”

This framing reinforced the idea that Nigeria’s push for representation is not just symbolic but tied to concrete developmental priorities.

The UN Security Council is the world’s most powerful diplomatic body, charged with maintaining international peace and security. Its permanent members — the so-called “P5” — wield veto power, allowing them to block any resolution regardless of majority support.

For decades, reform advocates have argued that this arrangement is outdated, disproportionately favors the victors of World War II, and sidelines emerging powers. Critics also note that Africa, despite being home to 1.4 billion people and often the focus of UN peacekeeping operations, has no permanent representation.

Nigeria believes that its demographic weight, military contributions, and diplomatic influence make it the natural choice for Africa’s first permanent seat.

Tinubu reminded world leaders that Nigeria has been a consistent partner in global peace and security. Since its independence in 1960, the country has participated in 51 of the UN’s 60 peacekeeping operations — a record few nations can match.

From Liberia and Sierra Leone to Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigerian troops have played frontline roles in stabilizing conflict zones across Africa. The country also remains a key member of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) battling Boko Haram and other extremist groups in the Lake Chad Basin.

By citing this history, Tinubu made the case that Nigeria has already been acting as a de facto global security partner. A permanent UNSC seat, he argued, would simply formalize a role Nigeria has long played.

Nigeria’s demand is part of a wider African push for reform. The Ezulwini Consensus, adopted by the African Union (AU) in 2005, demands at least two permanent and five non-permanent Security Council seats for Africa, with full veto rights.

The AU argues that Africa’s exclusion from permanent membership undermines the legitimacy of the Security Council, particularly given that most of its deliberations concern African conflicts.

Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt are often seen as the continent’s strongest candidates for permanent membership, though debates persist over who should represent Africa if only one or two seats are granted.

Nigeria’s case mirrors that of the G4 nations — Germany, Japan, India, and Brazil — which have also lobbied for permanent seats. Each represents a large population, economic clout, or significant contributions to UN operations.

Yet, unlike the G4, Africa as a whole remains completely excluded. This adds moral weight to Nigeria’s claim. Advocates argue that if emerging economies in Asia and Latin America deserve representation, Africa’s absence is indefensible.

Despite broad consensus on the need for reform, changing the structure of the Security Council is notoriously difficult. Any amendment to the UN Charter requires approval by two-thirds of the General Assembly and ratification by all five permanent members.

The P5 have historically resisted reform that would dilute their influence. Even among UN member states, there are disagreements about which countries should get new permanent seats and whether they should have veto power.

Nigeria faces competition from South Africa and Egypt, while some African states fear that granting a seat to one country may sideline others.

Tinubu’s speech also tied Nigeria’s demand to broader concerns about economic justice. He argued that institutional reforms must go hand-in-hand with fairer global economic structures.

He called for urgent action on sovereign debt relief — an issue that disproportionately affects African nations burdened by high interest payments and limited fiscal space. He also stressed that resource-rich countries must benefit equitably from their natural endowments, a pointed critique of extractive industries that leave host nations underdeveloped.

These themes positioned Nigeria’s UNSC demand not as an isolated ambition but as part of a larger vision for equitable global governance.

Tinubu’s call to bridge the digital divide reflected Africa’s growing concern about being left behind in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. By insisting that “A.I. must stand for Africa Included,” he sought to frame technological inclusion as a matter of global justice, not charity.

Nigeria, with its booming tech hubs in Lagos and Abuja, has positioned itself as a leader in Africa’s digital economy. But challenges remain, from inadequate infrastructure to lack of regulatory frameworks. Tinubu’s remarks suggested that Nigeria’s push for a Security Council seat is linked to its broader aspiration to be a global voice in shaping the future of technology.

While Nigeria’s latest demand was met with applause by some African delegates, the prospects for immediate reform remain slim. Diplomats familiar with the issue note that while there is widespread sympathy for Africa’s exclusion, entrenched power dynamics at the UN make change a slow and uncertain process.

Nonetheless, analysts say that Nigeria’s persistence keeps the issue alive on the global agenda. Each year that the demand is repeated, pressure grows for the UN to address its legitimacy crisis.

Domestically, Tinubu’s push serves to project Nigeria as a continental leader and a global player. For a government grappling with economic challenges at home, international recognition could boost national pride and strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic clout.

It also reinforces Nigeria’s claim to leadership within Africa, especially as the AU continues to push for collective representation.

President Tinubu’s speech at the 80th UNGA was more than a diplomatic plea — it was a statement about history, justice, and Nigeria’s place in the world. By demanding a permanent seat on the Security Council, Nigeria seeks not only to advance its own interests but to challenge a global order that many see as outdated and unjust.

As the world grapples with crises from climate change to migration, the credibility of multilateralism depends on whether institutions like the UN can adapt. For Nigeria, the question is simple: if a country of 236 million people, a major peacekeeping contributor, and a continental leader cannot have a seat at the table, whose voice truly matters?

Until the Security Council reforms, Tinubu’s words will continue to echo: fairness, representation, and credibility are at stake — not just for Nigeria, but for the future of the United Nations itself.