President Bola Tinubu has advocated for inclusion, multilateralism, and permanent seats for Nigeria and Africa on the UN Security Council.
Africa has long sought equal representation on the council.
The UNGA elects five new members from various geographical zones to serve two-year terms on the council every year. The continent holds three rotational seats in the 15-member UN council.
Tinubu, represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, stated on Tuesday at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that council change is now necessary.
He said:
“Some permanent members of the United Nations Security Council have offered encouraging, if tentative indications of support on the issue of reform of the council. We welcome the change in tone and urge an acceleration in momentum to the process.”
“The security council should be expanded, in the permanent and non-permanent member categories, to reflect the diversity and plurality of the world. We fully support the efforts of secretary-general Guterres in this regard.
“Africa must be accorded the respect that it deserves in the security council. Our continent deserves a place in the permanent members category of the security council, with the same rights and responsibilities as other permanent members.”
Tinubu also sought for debt forgiveness for Nigeria and a reform of the global financial architecture.
The president said:
“We reiterate the call by countries, especially of the global South, for reform of the international financial architecture and promotion of a rules-based, non-discriminatory, open, fair, inclusive, equitable and transparent multilateral trading system.”
“Similarly, we must ensure that any reform of the international financial system includes comprehensive debt relief measures, to enable sustainable financing for development.
“Countries of the global South cannot make meaningful economic progress without special concessions and a review of their current debt burden.”
Tinubu also harped on the dangers of climate change, proliferation of weapons, coups on the African continent and human rights abuses.
He added:
“From last year’s summit, and indeed from previous years, we have carried over the numerous challenges of terrorism, armed conflict, inequality, poverty, racial discrimination, human rights abuses, food crises, hunger, irregular migration, piracy, global pandemics, hyper-inflation, nuclear proliferation, grinding debt burden, climate change, and a host of other vexations.”
“The continued manifestation of these challenges testifies to our failings rather than to any lofty achievements on our part. Billions of dollars are being committed to the prosecution of wars and the fanning of the embers of conflict.
“Our people need employment. They need decent livelihoods. They desire good and affordable education and healthcare for their children and families. They need to live in healthy, safe and secure environments. They need hope and they need opportunity.”
The president also addressed the recovery of the proceeds of corruption and illicit financial flows, stating that returning such funds to their countries of origin “is a fundamental principle of the United Nations Convention against Corruption”.
He added:
“Therefore, the international community must promote practical measures to strengthen international cooperation to recover and return stolen assets and to eradicate safe havens that facilitate illicit flows of funds from developing countries to the developed economies.”
On the fringes of the UNGA, Shettima also sought Finland’s assistance in Nigeria’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
During a meeting with President of the Republic of Finland, Alexander Stubb, Shettima stated, “Nigeria has 25 years of uninterrupted democracy. And in Bola Tinubu, a president with a strong democratic record and dedication. With him in command, Africa and the rest of the globe would be safer, more forward-thinking, acceptable, and peaceful.”
Source: TheCable