…insists Africa’s demand for a permanent seat on Security Council is a demand for justice, not favour
In an address at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Nigeria’s President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for the creation of a new, binding international mechanism to manage sovereign debt.
He proposed a body akin to an International Court of Justice for money, arguing that it would help developing economies escape the economic constraints of relying on the export of unprocessed raw materials.
Represented by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, Shettima emphasized that sovereign debt relief is not an act of charity but a crucial path to achieving global peace and prosperity.
He asserted that a debt straitjacket prevents countries from investing in essential services and developing their economies beyond primary production.
The Vice President highlighted the difficult choices faced by nations like Nigeria: whether to fund infrastructure renewal and schools or allocate resources to defense and tanks.
He stressed that sustained peace is rooted in economic growth and prosperity, and the current debt burden hinders this progress.
Shettima’s call for a new debt management mechanism is part of a broader appeal for reforms to strengthen the international financial architecture.
He noted that despite recent efforts by Nigeria to restructure its economy and remove distortions like subsidies, the process of transition brings unavoidable hardship.
He urged the UN to re-examine the use of its scarce resources, particularly in the context of climate change, and to increase support for education, resilient housing, and technology access for vulnerable communities.
The speech also referenced the Lagos Action Plan, an initiative from decades past that outlined a route for African nations to move away from debt and dependence. Shettima argued that the principles of this plan, which include adding local value through processing and manufacturing, are still relevant today.
The General Assembly Hall at the United Nations in New York fell into a thoughtful hush yesterday. It was not just another speech. It was, in many ways, a bold demand: that the United Nations finally give Nigeria and by extension Africa a permanent voice at the world’s most powerful decision making table, the Security Council.
“When the UN was founded in 1945, Nigeria was a colony of just 20 million people, absent from the tables where decisions about our future were taken. Today, we are a sovereign nation of more than 236 million, projected to become the world’s third most populous country. Our demand for a permanent seat on the Security Council is a demand for justice, not favour,” Shettima declared to applause.
The Nigerian leader’s speech, delivered at the 80th UN General Assembly under the theme ‘Better Together: 80 Years and More for Peace, Development, and Human Rights’, was far more than a ceremonial statement. It was a carefully woven story of Nigeria’s past struggles, present challenges, and future aspirations.
For Tinubu, Nigeria’s case is not just about numbers it is about contribution and sacrifice. Since independence, the country has sent troops and resources to 51 UN peacekeeping missions across the globe. From Congo to Liberia, Sierra Leone to Darfur, Nigerian soldiers have bled for global peace.
“We have fought extremists, we have stood against tyranny, and yet, when the time comes to shape global policy, Africa’s seat is empty,” Tinubu argued.
He stressed that continuing to exclude Nigeria and Africa from permanent membership risks turning the UN into “an institution frozen in time, unable to reflect the realities of the 21st century.”
Tinubu acknowledged that Nigeria is undergoing painful but necessary reforms subsidy removal, currency adjustments, and a push to diversify the economy. He insisted these policies are designed to create resilience, not hardship, while calling for international partnerships to cushion their impact.
On climate change, he struck a balance between urgency and practicality. “It is not enough to set lofty targets,” he said. “We must use climate finance to educate our children, to build homes that resist floods, to give farmers technology that ensures their crops survive.”
The speech carried a tone both assertive and human. It referenced not only Nigeria’s massive population but also the day-to-day struggles of its people families forced to ration food during past fuel crises, communities battered by floods, and young Nigerians demanding digital access to compete globally.
Tinubu’s words reminded listeners that these are not abstract statistics but lived realities. And yet, the underlying message was hopeful: that with fairness, inclusion, and genuine reform, nations like Nigeria can help lead the world toward peace and progress.
“None of Us Is Safe Until All of Us Are Safe”
As Shettima’s voice carried Tinubu’s closing words across the assembly, the sentiment was clear:
“For none of us is safe until all of us are safe. Multilateralism must not remain a slogan. It must be an article of faith. Nigeria dedicates itself fully to that noble cause.”
For many in the room, it was a reminder that Africa long on the margins of global power will no longer settle for silence. Nigeria, with its size, sacrifice, and restless population, is demanding a seat where the future of the world is decided.
