* Says Nigeria ready with capacity to represent Africa
* Insists Africa deserves priority with two permanent seats
By Mathew Dadiya
Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu emphasised the urgent need for the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) reform to ensure its continued relevance in global interventions.
The President reiterated Nigeria’s readiness and capability to represent Africa within this elite.
Tinubu made the call on Monday at the 19th G20 Leaders Summit opening session in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
He said the Security Council should expand its permanent and non-permanent member categories to reflect the world’s diversity and plurality, insisting that “Africa deserves priority in this.”
He called on the G20 to champion this noble ideal, having admitted the African Union as a group member.
President Tinubu said: “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.”
Earlier in his speech, President Bola Tinubu hailed the creation of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, championed by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil.
Tinubu described the alliance as pivotal in the global fight against hunger and poverty.
“By fostering collaboration between governments, international organisations, and civil society, this initiative offers a comprehensive approach not only to addressing immediate needs but also tackling the structural causes of hunger and poverty,” he said.
President Tinubu compared this global initiative to one of the eight priority areas he outlined at his inauguration 18 months ago, expressing Nigeria’s eagerness to adopt international best practices to advance its economic development.
According to President Tinubu, Nigeria’s endorsement of the declaration of commitment to join the Global Alliance is a significant step in its efforts to address hunger and poverty by leveraging international cooperation and resources to bolster domestic strategies.
He added that by supporting the initiative, Nigeria also demonstrates a solid commitment to realising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1, which focuses on eradicating poverty, and SDG 2, which aims to achieve zero hunger.
The Nigerian leader and chairman of ECOWAS, said, “by collaborating with international partners, Nigeria aims to leverage best practices, innovative solutions, and financial support to enhance its efforts to combat poverty and hunger.
The endorsement reinforces Nigeria’s role as a key player in global efforts to promote sustainable development and improve the quality of life for all its citizens.”