Nigeria seeks two permanent UNSC seats with veto, says VP Shettima at UNGA

Vice President Kashim Shettima delivered Nigeria’s address at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday, September 24, 2026, speaking for President Bola Tinubu. He reiterated Nigeria’s demand for UN Security Council reform, insisting Africa get at least two permanent seats with veto power and five non‑permanent seats total, citing the Ezulwini Consensus and the African Continental Free Trade Area Declaration.

Shettima also called for broader UN reforms: a fairer international financial architecture, wider access to concessional financing, and debt sustainability frameworks that recognise developmental needs. He stressed Nigeria’s commitment to the Paris Agreement, noting the country’s energy transition plan aims for net‑zero emissions by 2060 while expanding affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy. On technology, he said Nigeria is investing in digital public infrastructure, broadband, innovation systems, and tech entrepreneurship, urging the world to partner with its youth to direct AI toward humanity’s advancement.

Why does this matter? Nigeria’s push for permanent African seats could shift the UN’s power balance, affecting global peace‑and‑security decisions. Its simultaneous calls for financial reform, climate action, and responsible AI shape the country’s foreign‑policy priorities and may influence upcoming UN negotiations.

What should you know? The Ezulwini Consensus has long backed Africa’s claim, but any UN Charter amendment requires approval by two‑thirds of member states, including all permanent Security Council members. Watch for how major powers respond and whether Nigeria’s diplomatic push gains traction in the coming months.

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/09/24/full-text-nigeria-addresses-global-leaders-at-81st-unga/