Nigeria has renewed its call for Africa to be granted a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, insisting that reforms of the global institution must reflect fairness, inclusiveness, and global equity.
The country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, made the appeal during an informal plenary meeting convened to receive a briefing on the United Nations 80 Initiative ahead of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly.
Speaking at the session, Ibrahim reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the UN Charter, particularly its preamble and provisions under Articles 24 and 27, which define the mandate and decision-making framework of the Security Council.
He stressed the need for member states to fully respect and implement these provisions in order to promote sovereignty, fairness, and mutual respect in international relations.
The Nigerian envoy argued that meaningful reform of the United Nations must be built on legitimacy and broad consensus among member states if it is to succeed.
He maintained that such reforms would remain incomplete without addressing Africa’s long-standing demand for permanent representation on the Security Council.
Africa, despite accounting for more than a quarter of UN membership, currently has no permanent seat on the 15-member Security Council.
For years, the continent has pushed for structural reforms that would grant it permanent representation and a stronger voice in global peace and security decisions.
Nigeria has been one of the leading advocates of this position, consistently arguing that a more inclusive Security Council would enhance the credibility, legitimacy, and effectiveness of the United Nations in addressing global challenges.
