President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for urgent reforms in the global multilateral system, insisting that Nigeria deserves a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. He made the demand in his national statement delivered by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Wednesday, September 24, 2025.
The President said the UN could only recover its relevance if it reflects the world as it is today rather than the post-World War II order of 1945. He stressed that Nigeria, with its population of over 236 million and decades-long role in global peacekeeping, is not only qualified but also entitled to a permanent Security Council seat. “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 of over 236 million, projected to be the third most populous country in the world, with one of the youngest and most dynamic populations on earth,” he said.
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Tinubu outlined four major priorities that must define global reforms going forward. These include Nigeria’s demand for a permanent seat at the Security Council, urgent sovereign debt relief and fairer access to trade and financing for developing countries, equitable benefit-sharing from minerals and natural resources, and the need to bridge the digital divide so that Africa is not excluded from the unfolding technological revolution. He stressed that as the UN Secretary-General himself has said, “AI must stand for Africa Included.”
On peace and security, Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to multilateralism but warned that without meaningful reform, nations would lose faith in the UN model. He recalled Nigeria’s record of participating in 51 out of 60 UN peacekeeping operations since independence and noted that the country’s long fight against violent extremism had taught a critical lesson—that while military tactics may win battles, only values and ideas secure lasting victories. He also condemned terrorism and global aggression in regions such as Gaza and Sudan, while restating Nigeria’s support for a two-state solution to the Palestinian conflict. According to him, the sanctity of human life must never be reduced to political bargaining.
Turning to domestic reforms, Tinubu defended his administration’s tough economic decisions, including subsidy removal and currency adjustments. He argued that though painful, the measures were necessary to unlock long-term prosperity and attract investment. He cited the recently concluded West Africa Economic Summit in Abuja as proof of the region’s economic potential. Linking peace to prosperity, he explained that difficult choices such as whether to build schools or strengthen defence had defined Nigeria’s trajectory, but he insisted that sustainable growth remains the surest path to lasting security.
The President also drew attention to climate change, describing it as an issue that goes beyond the environment to touch on global security and migration. He called for a smarter use of climate funds to provide education, resilient housing, and access to technology for vulnerable communities. In the same spirit, he urged global leaders to rethink sovereign debt management, proposing a binding mechanism similar to an international court of justice for debt issues. This, he argued, would free developing economies from the cycle of dependence on primary production and raw material exports.
Tinubu further highlighted the importance of Africa’s mineral wealth, noting that the continent’s vast reserves of critical minerals should drive prosperity rather than conflict. He recalled Nigeria’s experience in the Niger Delta, pointing out that peace is more sustainable when host communities benefit directly from their resources. Exporting raw materials without local processing, he warned, only deepens inequality and instability.
On technology, Tinubu acknowledged both the opportunities and risks, pointing to the dangers of fake news and a growing generation of young people who no longer believe or trust information. However, he stressed that the real risk lies in excluding Africa from the ongoing technological revolution. To prevent this, he called for a global initiative that brings together governments, researchers, the private sector, and communities to close the digital divide.
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Concluding his address, Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to global peace, human rights, and multilateralism. He declared that none of the world’s nations are safe until all are safe, urging bold action and renewed faith in collective responsibility. “History reminds us that bold action in pursuit of noble ideals has always defined the story of the United Nations. That balance is once again in question, but I believe that a renewed commitment to multilateralism, not as a slogan but as an article of faith, remains our surest path forward,” he said.
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