Nigeria has renewed its demand for at least two permanent seats for Africa on the United Nations Security Council, insisting that the positions should carry veto powers for as long as the privilege remains in existence.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima made the demand while delivering President Bola Tinubu’s national statement at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Nigeria also called for five non-permanent seats for Africa, in line with the continent’s Common African Position on reform of the Security Council.
Shettima argued that the current composition of the Council no longer reflects the geopolitical realities of the modern world and has weakened the credibility of global decision-making.
“The world of 2026 cannot remain captive to the distribution of power in 1945,” he said.
The Vice-President said Africa could no longer remain without permanent representation on the Council while matters involving the continent continued to receive significant attention from the body.
He said Nigeria’s position was consistent with the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration, which constitute Africa’s Common African Position on Security Council reform.
Under the position, African countries are seeking at least two permanent seats with the same privileges enjoyed by existing permanent members, including veto powers for as long as the veto remains available. Africa is also seeking five non-permanent seats.
Shettima said international institutions claiming authority to act on behalf of humanity must adequately reflect the people and regions they represent.
He linked reform of the Security Council to efforts to rebuild confidence in multilateralism amid growing geopolitical divisions.
The Vice-President also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the UN Charter and international cooperation, saying the country supports an international system in which diplomacy takes precedence over coercion and international law guides relations between states.
Shettima highlighted Nigeria’s contributions to international and regional peace efforts, citing its involvement in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Darfur, Mali and The Gambia.
He said Nigeria continues to work through the Economic Community of West African States, the African Union and Gulf of Guinea mechanisms on mediation, counter-terrorism, democratic governance and maritime security.
According to him, continuing conflicts in different parts of the world underline the need for dialogue, collective responsibility and peaceful settlement of disputes.
Shettima also identified the conflict in Sudan and other areas of instability as requiring urgent diplomatic intervention because of their humanitarian, economic and geopolitical consequences.
He further warned that propaganda could blur distinctions between victims and aggressors, making accountability more difficult.
The UN Security Council has 15 members, comprising five permanent members — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States — and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.
The five permanent members have veto powers, which allow any one of them to block the adoption of a substantive Security Council resolution.
Africa currently has no permanent seat on the Council.
Nigeria’s campaign for permanent African representation is not new. In September 2025, former Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar said Nigeria would intensify its campaign for permanent African representation, citing the continent’s common position under the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration.
The United States also expressed support in 2024 for the creation of two permanent seats for African countries on the Security Council. Washington, however, said it did not support extending veto powers to new permanent members.
Reforming the Security Council would require amendments to the UN Charter. Such amendments require approval by two-thirds of the UN General Assembly and ratification by the existing five permanent members.
