LAGOS: Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, on Tuesday demanded a permanent seat for African nations on the United Nations Security Council and called for the cancellation of his country’s debt owed to international lenders.
During his speech at the UN’s 79th UN General Assembly in New York, Shettima stressed the need for the Security Council to be expanded, stating, “Our continent deserves a place in the permanent members’ category of the Security Council.”
Shettima said that any new permanent seats for African countries should come “with the same rights and responsibilities as other permanent members,” particularly the power of veto.
In a subsequent interview with MSNBC, Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar reiterated the call for Nigeria to secure a permanent seat.
The push for increased representation comes as Nigeria’s continental rival, South Africa, also seeks a top seat on the Security Council. Earlier this month, US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, indicated that the United States would support the creation of two additional permanent seats for African countries, though she clarified that these new members would not have veto power.
Shettima urged for a comprehensive reform of the international financial system, advocating for the cancellation of Nigeria’s debts owed to multilateral institutions. He argued that the current global framework is hampered by “nationalism” and self-interest, which undermine efforts to address pressing issues such as terrorism, inequality, and climate change.
“Multilateralism is essential for sustaining the global body’s relevance and resilience,” Shettima stated, calling on member states to recommit to collaborative solutions to global challenges.
The Vice President also addressed the issue of recent unconstitutional changes of government in West Africa, referring to the military coups in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso. He warned that democracy remains “fragile” without the support of peace, security, and economic development.
