*President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his national statement at the ongoing UNGA79, in New York, United States, avers the United Nations Security Council should be expanded, in the permanent and non-permanent member categories, to reflect the diversity and plurality of the world, stating 鈥楢frica must be accorded the respect that it deserves in the Security Council鈥�

Gbenga Kayode | 绿帽献妻

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has insisted on bold reforms in the United Nations (UN) Security Council with a view to giving Nigeria and other African countries permanent seats at the Council of the global body.

Tinubu, who stated this in Nigeria鈥檚 national statement while addressing global leaders at the ongoing 79th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations (UNGA79), in New York, United States (US), stressed that the inclusion of Nigeria and other developing economies has since become imperative for the global body to strengthen its relevance and credibility in a rapidly changing world.

Represented at the global forum by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, at the high-level annual global event, the Nigerian leader also asserted: “Some permanent members of the United Nations Security Council have offered encouraging, if tentative indications of support on the issue of reform of the Council.

鈥淲e welcome the change in tone and urge an acceleration in momentum to the process.鈥�

The President stated: “The Security Council should be expanded, in the permanent and non-permanent member categories, to reflect the diversity and plurality of the world. We fully support the efforts of UN Secretary-General Guterres in this regard.

“Africa must be accorded the respect that it deserves in the Security Council.

鈥淥ur Continent deserves a place in the permanent members鈥� category of the Security Council, with the same rights and responsibilities as other Permanent members.”

The Nigerian leader, in his address, equally urged world leaders to recommit themselves to 鈥渕ultilateralism鈥� as against 鈥渘ationalism鈥� by deepening relations among member states of the United Nations in line with the principles of inclusivity, equality and cooperation.

President Tinubu, who is the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of States and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), decried the 鈥渟teep descent to singularity and nationalism鈥�, especially among the developed economies of the world.

Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice-President), Tuesday, September 24, 2024, as well noted in a statement that Tinubu observed that this development is fast undermining the UN鈥檚 quest for peaceful and collective resolution of global challenges, including terrorism, climate change, poverty, food crises, hyper-inflation, nuclear proliferation, and grinding debt burden, among others.