Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf MaitamaTuggar, has recently raised a powerful call for Africa to secure a permanent seat on the United Nations (UN) Security Council. Speaking during a panel discussion on the theme ‘Africa’s Momentum’ at the World Economic Forum summit in Davos, Switzerland, Tuggar highlighted the longstanding exclusion of Africa from the global decision-making body. In his address, he made a compelling argument that Nigeria should be the country to represent Africa on the Security Council, given its historical contributions to the continent and its potential to lead Africa in global affairs.
The UN Security Council, often seen as the highest decision-making organ of the world body, has long been criticized for its lack of African representation. Currently, no African nation holds a permanent seat, despite the continent being the focus of a significant portion of the Council’s deliberations. According to Tuggar, approximately 60 percent of the Security Council’s resolutions concern Africa, underscoring the continent’s critical role in global security and governance. Yet, despite this prominence, Africa’s voice remains excluded from the crucial decision-making processes that affect its future.
Tuggar decried the marginalization of African issues within the Security Council, pointing to examples like the Deforestation Law, which bans the purchase of produce from deforested land in Africa. He emphasized the law’s failure to hold accountable the multinational tech companies whose machinery enables deforestation on the continent. This, he argued, is just one instance where Africa’s interests are negatively impacted by laws and policies enacted without adequate consultation with the continent’s leadership.
The Nigerian Foreign Minister’s comments are a call to address not just the representation of Africa but also the injustices that have long been perpetuated by the global system. Tuggaremphasized that Africa must be given a permanent seat at the table, reflecting its size, population, and growing influence in the world. As one of the world’s largest economies and the continent’s most populous country, Nigeria has the credibility and influence to represent Africa effectively in the Security Council.
Tuggar also made a broader case for Nigeria’s increasing importance in global affairs under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu’s administration. He outlined how Nigeria’s foreign policy is built on the principles of strategic autonomy and nonalignment, positioning the country as a neutral force in international relations. This, he suggested, enables Nigeria to act as a unifying voice for Africa, advocating for the continent’s collective interests without the pressures of aligning too closely with any global power bloc.
Additionally, Tuggar argued for Nigeria’s inclusion in the G20, a forum of the world’s largest economies. He pointed out that the G20 summit scheduled for 2025 in South Africa offers an opportunity for Nigeria to advocate for the interests of the Global South, especially in areas like energy transition and the fair allocation of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs). Nigeria, with its vast natural resources, could play a crucial role in pushing for the implementation of promises made at the Rio Summit, particularly regarding the transfer of technology to developing nations.
The Foreign Minister also emphasized Nigeria’s historical role in supporting African liberation movements, including its significant contributions to the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa. Nigeria’s leadership in fostering peace and stability on the continent, through its role in the African Union’s Peace and Security Council, further solidifies its claim to a prominent position in global governance.
As part of its “soft power,” Nigeria has long contributed to the development of other African nations, through programs like the Technical Aid Corps, which sends volunteer professionals—ranging from medical doctors to engineers—to help support development projects across Africa and the Caribbean. This commitment to peace, stability, and development within Africa demonstrates Nigeria’s readiness to represent the continent on the global stage.
Tuggar also highlighted Nigeria’s non-threatening nature and its cooperative relations with its neighbors, asserting that Nigeria is trusted by other African countries to represent their interests in the international arena. Nigeria’s history of resolving boundary disputes peacefully and its diplomatic ties across the continent enhance its reputation as a reliable and stable partner in global governance.
With Nigeria’s population projected to reach 400 million by 2050, Tuggar stressed the importance of recognizing Africa as a continent with diverse nations, cultures, and interests, rather than a monolithic entity. He argued that the global community must treat Africa’s representation with the same seriousness afforded to other regions, such as South America, which is not questioned despite similar representation.
In his concluding remarks, Tuggar expressed confidence that South Africa, as host of the upcoming G20 summit, would support Nigeria’s case for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. Nigeria’s track record of leadership and its growing influence on the world stage make it an essential representative of Africa’s interests in global institutions.
As the global community moves towards a more inclusive and representative system of governance, Nigeria’s call for a permanent African seat on the UN Security Council represents an opportunity for the continent to assert itself in the world’s most influential forums. The next few years may prove critical in determining whether Africa’s rightful place on the Security Council will finally be realized.
