Nigeria's Vice President Kashim Shettima has stated that Africa's continued exclusion from permanent membership of the United Nations (UN) Security Council undermines the fairness and legitimacy of the global governance system. He made this statement during a meeting with UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York. Shettima emphasized the need for urgent reform of the UN to make it more representative and credible.
Shettima reaffirmed Nigeria's support for the reform of the UN and assured that Nigeria would remain a dependable partner in efforts to rebuild trust among nations, defend international law, and address hunger, violence, and exclusion. He commended UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, for his consistent support for a more representative Security Council. Guterres has declared that a 21st-century Council without permanent African representation is "unjust and indefensible."
The Vice President stressed that a continent cannot be expected to bear the burdens of the international order and then denied an equal hand in directing it. He maintained that Nigeria would continue to support reforms that make international institutions more representative, responsive, and credible. Shettima also called for a permanent slot for Nigeria in the UN Security Council, emphasizing that global decisions must better reflect contemporary geopolitical and demographic realities.
Shettima, who represented President Bola Tinubu at the 81st edition of the UN General Assembly, praised Guterres for defending international law and human dignity amid widening global conflicts and rising geopolitical tensions. He warned that diplomacy must not lose sight of the human consequences of war and instability. The Vice President emphasized that the credibility of the international system would eventually depend on its ability to respond fairly to human suffering and provide all regions with a meaningful voice in global decision-making.
The Vice President commended Amina Mohammed for her contributions to multilateral diplomacy and sustainable development, describing her service as a source of pride to Nigeria. He added that Nigeria will remain a willing ally in the work of restoring trust among nations and dignity to lives diminished by hunger, violence, and exclusion. Mohammed expressed gratitude to Nigeria and President Bola Tinubu for their support to the UN and her office.
Shettima was accompanied on the visit by several top officials, including Governors Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, Hyacinth Alia of Benue, Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, as well as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and Nigeria's Permanent Representative to the UN, Jimoh Ibrahim. The meeting was a significant step in Nigeria's efforts to promote reform of the UN and advocate for African representation in global decision-making.
The issue of UN reform is gaining momentum, with many countries calling for a more representative and inclusive global governance system. Shettima's statement reflects Nigeria's commitment to promoting a more equitable and just international order. The Vice President's advocacy for African representation in the UN Security Council is part of a broader effort to ensure that the continent's voices are heard and its interests are represented in global decision-making.
Key points
- - Africa's exclusion from the UN Security Council undermines the legitimacy of the global governance system. - Nigeria's Vice President Kashim Shettima calls for urgent reform of the UN to make it more representative and credible. - Shettima advocates for a permanent slot for Nigeria in the UN Security Council.
