Nigeria has called for at least two permanent seats for Africa on the United Nations Security Council, with veto powers for as long as the privilege exists.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima made the demand on Thursday while delivering President Bola Tinubu’s national statement at the 81st UN General Assembly in New York.
Nigeria also backed the creation of five non-permanent seats for Africa, in line with the continent’s Common African Position on reforming the Security Council.
Shettima said the current structure of the Council no longer reflected contemporary geopolitical realities and had weakened confidence in global decision-making.
“The world of 2026 cannot remain captive to the distribution of power in 1945,” he said.
The Vice-President said Africa could no longer remain outside permanent membership of the Council while issues concerning the continent continued to receive significant attention from the body.
He said Nigeria’s position was consistent with the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration, which form the basis of the African Union’s Common African Position.
Under the position, Africa is seeking at least two permanent seats with the same privileges enjoyed by existing permanent members, including veto powers for as long as the veto remains in existence, as well as five non-permanent seats.
Shettima said institutions that exercise authority on behalf of humanity must adequately reflect the people and regions they represent.
He linked reform of the Security Council to efforts to restore confidence in multilateralism amid growing geopolitical divisions.
Nigeria reaffirms commitment to multilateralism
Shettima also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the UN Charter and international cooperation, saying the country supports an international system where diplomacy takes precedence over coercion and international law guides relations between states.
He highlighted Nigeria’s contributions to international and regional peace operations in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Darfur, Mali and The Gambia.
According to him, Nigeria continues to work through the Economic Community of West African States, African Union and Gulf of Guinea mechanisms on mediation, counter-terrorism, democratic governance and maritime security.
Shettima said persistent conflicts around the world underscored the need for dialogue, collective responsibility and peaceful settlement of disputes.
He identified the conflict in Sudan and other conflict zones as requiring urgent diplomatic intervention because of their humanitarian, economic and geopolitical consequences.
The Vice-President also warned that propaganda could blur the distinction between victims and aggressors and make accountability more difficult.
How the Security Council is structured
The UN Security Council has 15 members, comprising five permanent members China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.
The five permanent members have veto powers, allowing any of them to block the adoption of substantive Security Council resolutions.
Africa currently has no permanent seat on the Council.
The African Union’s Common African Position calls for at least two permanent African seats with all existing privileges, including veto powers for as long as the privilege exists, alongside five non-permanent seats.
Nigeria’s push for permanent African representation
Nigeria’s campaign for permanent African representation on the Security Council is not new.
In September 2025, former Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar said Nigeria would intensify efforts to secure permanent African representation, citing the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration.
The United States also expressed support in 2024 for creating two permanent seats for African countries on the Security Council, but said it did not support extending veto powers to new permanent members.
Any reform of the Security Council would require amendments to the UN Charter. Such amendments require approval by two-thirds of the UN General Assembly and ratification by the existing five permanent members.
