President Bola Tinubu has expressed Nigeria’s commitment to serving as a representative of Africa in the United Nations Security Council.
Tinubu made this disclosure at the 19th G20 Leaders Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Monday.
He emphasised the importance of expanding the UNSC to reflect global diversity, advocating for the allocation of two permanent seats to Africa, as the continent continues to be underrepresented in critical global governance structures.
According to a statement from his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu made the remarks during the summit’s opening session.
He stated, “The Security Council should expand its permanent and non-permanent member categories to reflect the world’s diversity and plurality better. Africa deserves priority in this process, and two permanent seats should be allocated to it with equal rights and responsibilities. Nigeria stands ready and willing to serve as a representative of Africa in this capacity.”
In his address, Tinubu commended the G20 for granting permanent membership to the African Union, recognizing the significance of such inclusion in fostering more comprehensive and effective dialogues on pressing global issues.
He pointed out that this broader participation could provide the opportunity for more inclusive discussions, helping to address challenges that affect the entire world.
Highlighting the urgency of global reforms, the President continued, “Some permanent members of the council have shown promising signs of support for this process, which is a positive development. We welcome this shift in attitude and call for a faster pace to the long overdue change.”
Tinubu underscored the dire global challenges that demand urgent attention, including extreme poverty, inequality, climate change, terrorism, and ongoing conflicts, noting that these issues are often exacerbated by inequities within the current global governance framework.
The president further noted that longstanding disparities in the global system have led to unsustainable sovereign debt, limited access to capital markets, unfair trade imbalances, and hindered development in the Global South.
He emphasized the critical need for pragmatic solutions to address these systemic imbalances, particularly the issue of global taxation, which disproportionately impacts developing nations.
“The current international tax system, largely shaped by the interests of more affluent nations, often leaves developing countries at a disadvantage, especially in taxing digital economies,” he said, highlighting how this has resulted in significant revenue losses and hampered sustainable development efforts in the Global South.
Tinubu stressed that multilateral institutions must undergo substantial reforms to bridge the gap between the Global North and South, stating that this path was essential for the future of global governance.
“This is the path for the future and one the G20 must champion. Nigeria is committed to being part of that future through active participation in the G20 and our steadfast support for achieving SDG 2030 targets,” he affirmed.
In his remarks, the president also praised Brazilian President Lula da Silva for his leadership in spearheading the creation of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, a landmark initiative aimed at addressing some of the most critical issues facing the global community today.
Tinubu called the alliance a “significant milestone” in the global fight to eradicate hunger and poverty, commending Brazil for its bold and visionary approach to tackling these persistent challenges.
He added, “This bold and visionary step underscores Brazil’s leadership in addressing one of the most urgent and persistent challenges facing our world today. The creation of this Alliance marks a significant milestone in our global efforts to eradicate hunger and poverty, and it also sends a powerful message of solidarity to vulnerable populations around the globe.”
Tinubu noted that the alliance aligns with his administration’s commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goals 1 and 2, which focus on eradicating poverty and achieving zero hunger.
He highlighted that this collaborative effort, bringing together governments, international organizations, and civil society, aims to address both the immediate needs of affected populations and the structural causes of hunger and poverty.
