President Bola Tinubu has demanded at least two permanent seats for Africa on the United Nations Security Council, including veto rights, declaring that the world of 2026 cannot remain governed by a power structure established in 1945.

Tinubu made the demand in his address to the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, delivered on his behalf by Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday.

The President also called for five non-permanent seats for Africa, saying the continent could no longer continue to shape the UN Security Council’s agenda while remaining excluded from its permanent membership.

“The reform of this institution must begin with the reconstitution of the Security Council, for the world of 2026 cannot remain captive to the distribution of power in 1945,” Tinubu said.

“Africa cannot continue to fill the Council’s agenda while remaining absent from its permanent membership.”

He said Nigeria’s demand was consistent with the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration, which articulate Africa’s position on reform of the UN Security Council.

Tinubu called for the proposed African permanent seats to carry all the rights and responsibilities of permanent membership, “including the veto for as long as it exists.”

“The authority to speak for humanity carries an obligation to represent it,” he said.

The President also called for an immediate end to conflicts around the world, urging countries to return to the principles of dialogue, mutual respect, collective responsibility and international law upon which the United Nations was founded.

He warned that the persistence of wars and unilateral aggression was undermining confidence in the international system and said no country could insulate itself from the consequences of conflicts elsewhere.

“The persistence of conflict across the world recalls the purpose for which the United Nations was founded: to spare succeeding generations the devastation of war,” Tinubu said.

“Nigeria stands by the Charter and its promise of a world in which diplomacy prevails over coercion, cooperation over isolation and international law over the arbitrary exercise of power.”

He cited Nigeria’s contributions to peacekeeping and conflict resolution in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Darfur, Mali and The Gambia, saying the country had repeatedly committed personnel and resources when regional and international solidarity demanded action.

According to him, Nigeria would continue to work through ECOWAS, the African Union and Gulf of Guinea partnerships to advance mediation, democratic governance, counter-terrorism and maritime security.

Tinubu said Nigeria’s commitment to peace and security was linked to its broader development agenda, arguing that sustainable development required stable institutions, economic opportunity and international cooperation.

On the global financial system, the President called for reforms that would give developing countries greater access to concessional financing and debt arrangements that recognise their development needs.

He said inadequate financing remained one of the major obstacles to sustainable development, with many developing countries spending significant portions of their resources on debt servicing rather than education, healthcare and infrastructure.

“One of the greatest obstacles to sustainable development is inadequate financing,” he said.

Tinubu also demanded greater fairness for Africa in climate financing, noting that the continent bears a disproportionate burden of climate change despite accounting for less than four per cent of global emissions.

He rejected what he described as a false choice between development and climate action, saying developing countries must be allowed to industrialise, eradicate poverty and expand energy access through low-carbon pathways supported by technology transfer and adequate climate finance.

He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the Paris Agreement and a fair energy transition, saying the country was working towards net-zero emissions by 2060 while expanding access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy.

On emerging technology, Tinubu said Nigeria would not allow fear to dictate its technological future, stressing that artificial intelligence should be harnessed for human advancement.

He said the Federal Government was expanding digital public infrastructure, accelerating broadband deployment and promoting technology entrepreneurship to position Nigeria to benefit from emerging technologies.

The President also drew attention to the security challenges posed by terrorism and cyberattacks, saying Nigeria’s experience in confronting Boko Haram, ISWAP and other armed groups had demonstrated that no country could secure itself completely against threats sustained beyond its borders.

He said military action alone could not deliver lasting peace, stressing the need for education, economic opportunities, accountable governance and respect for human rights.

On the conflicts in Sudan and other war-torn countries, Tinubu called for urgent diplomacy to address their humanitarian, economic and geopolitical consequences.

He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with the UN Charter and said the country remained prepared to provide leadership in addressing security challenges in Africa.

The President also warned against the use of propaganda to shield perpetrators of violence from accountability, saying the credibility of the international system depended on the ability to distinguish between victims and aggressors.

“We should all be afraid of a world in which we can no longer tell the victim from the aggressor,” he said.

Tinubu said Nigeria would continue to support a multilateral system capable of responding effectively to global security, economic and environmental challenges.

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