Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for an overhaul of the United Nations Security Council, insisting that Africa can no longer remain central to the Council’s agenda while being excluded from its permanent membership.
Shettima made the demand while addressing the 81th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, where he said the structure of the Security Council must reflect the realities of the contemporary world rather than the distribution of power that existed in 1945.
He said Nigeria was demanding, in line with the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, at least two permanent seats for Africa with all the rights and responsibilities attached to permanent membership, including the veto for as long as it exists, as well as five non-permanent seats.
“The reform of this institution must begin with the reconstitution of the Security Council. For the world of 2026 cannot remain captive to the distribution of power in 1945,” Shettima said.
“Africa cannot continue to fill the Council’s agenda while remaining absent from its permanent membership.
“Nigeria demands, in accordance with the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, at least two permanent seats for Africa with all the rights and responsibilities of permanent membership, including the veto—where as long as it exists—and five non-permanent seats in total.”
According to him, Nigeria’s demand is founded on the principle that countries seeking greater representation must also be prepared to shoulder greater responsibilities in maintaining international peace and security.
“The authority to speak for humanity carries an obligation to represent it,” he said.
Shettima said Nigeria was prepared to assume greater responsibility at the international level, citing the country’s contributions to peace operations and regional security efforts in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Darfur, Mali and The Gambia.
He said Nigeria had also continued to support mediation, democratic governance, counter-terrorism and maritime security through the Economic Community of West African States, African Union and Gulf of Guinea partnerships.
The Vice President urged the international community to return to the founding principles of the UN, particularly dialogue, mutual respect and collective responsibility, amid persistent conflicts across the world.
“We must, therefore, return to the founding principles of dialogue, mutual respect, and collective responsibility. 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,” he said.
Shettima also called for greater international action on climate change, saying developing countries should be allowed to industrialise, eradicate poverty and expand energy access while pursuing low-carbon development.
He said Nigeria remained committed to the Paris Agreement and its Energy Transition Plan, which targets net-zero emissions by 2060.
“Developing countries must industrialize, eradicate poverty, and expand energy access through low-carbon pathways supported by technology transfer, capacity building, and climate finance,” he said.
The Vice President argued that Africa, despite contributing less than four per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, was facing disproportionate consequences of climate change.
He called for climate finance to be based on equity and shared responsibility, rather than charity, with international commitments translated into accessible and predictable funding mechanisms.
On technology and artificial intelligence, Shettima said Nigeria rejected efforts to allow fear of emerging technologies to undermine their potential benefits.
“An invention can be destructive or beneficial, depending on the purpose it serves and the judgment of those who use it,” he said.
“A knife can take life in the hands of an assailant, and can save one in the hands of a surgeon. We can deploy artificial intelligence to wage war, or use it to transform healthcare, education, agriculture, governance, and economic productivity.”
He said Nigeria was investing in digital public infrastructure, broadband connectivity, innovation systems, research institutions and technology entrepreneurship, while inviting international partners to work with the country’s young innovators.
Shettima also advocated reforms to the international financial architecture, saying debt servicing was consuming resources that developing countries needed for education, healthcare and infrastructure.
“Nigeria, therefore, calls for reform of the international financial architecture, wider access to concessional financing, and debt sustainability frameworks that recognize developmental needs,” he said.
He also identified the African Continental Free Trade Area as a major opportunity for Africa to strengthen regional value chains, expand intra-African trade, promote industrialisation and attract investment.
The Vice President said the continent must move beyond its traditional role as an exporter of raw materials by increasing value addition, manufacturing, technological innovation and knowledge-driven growth.
On security, Shettima said terrorism, organised crime, cyberattacks and illicit finance had demonstrated the limitations of isolated national responses.
He said Nigeria’s experience in combating Boko Haram, ISWAP and other armed groups showed that military victories must be complemented by education, economic opportunity, accountable governance and protection of communities.
“Development cannot take root while violence repeatedly uproots livelihoods, and peace cannot endure while injustice and exclusion replenish the ranks of those who threaten it,” he said.
Shettima also called for urgent diplomatic action to address conflicts in Sudan and other war-torn countries, stressing the need to protect civilians and ensure humanitarian access.
He said negotiated settlements must respect sovereignty and territorial integrity, while all parties to conflicts must uphold international humanitarian and human rights law.
The Vice President urged the UN to devote greater resources to peacebuilding, mediation, institution-building and sustainable development, arguing that prevention should receive greater political attention.
He said Africa was ready to play a greater role in global growth, citing its youthful population, natural resources, expanding markets and the opportunities offered by the AfCFTA.
“Developing countries must be recognized as indispensable partners whose contributions to global solutions and shared prosperity extend far beyond their need for assistance,” he said.
Shettima concluded by calling for a more inclusive and effective United Nations, saying global cooperation remained necessary to address conflicts, climate change, development challenges and the responsible use of technology.
“Whatever our differences, we must remember that humanity is our oldest citizenship, and peace is the inheritance we owe every child,” he said.