Nigeria Ready to Represent Africa on UN Security Council, Says Tinubu at G20 Summit

President Bola Tinubu has declared Nigeria’s readiness to represent Africa on the United Nations Security Council, urging the council to adapt to global diversity by allocating two permanent seats to the continent. Speaking at the opening session of the 19th G20 Leaders Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tinubu emphasized Nigeria’s willingness to take on this responsibility on behalf of Africa. His remarks were detailed in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, titled, “At the G20 Summit in Brazil, President Tinubu endorses the launch of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty.”

Tinubu called for the Security Council to expand both its permanent and non-permanent member categories to better reflect the world’s diversity and plurality. He highlighted the need for Africa to receive priority in this process, advocating for the continent to be granted two permanent seats with equal rights and responsibilities.

Acknowledging the G20’s decision to grant permanent membership to the African Union, Tinubu praised this as a step towards fostering inclusive global discussions. He urged accelerated progress toward broader representation, noting positive signs of support from some current permanent members of the Security Council.

Tinubu identified pressing global challenges such as extreme poverty, inequality, climate change, terrorism, and ongoing conflicts, all of which he argued are compounded by inequities in global governance. He underscored the need to address issues such as sovereign debt burdens, trade imbalances, and limited access to capital markets that hinder development in the Global South. Of particular concern, he noted, is the global taxation system, which often disadvantages developing nations, particularly in taxing digital economies.

“This systemic imbalance has led to significant revenue losses, hampering sustainable development and economic self-reliance,” he said, calling for multilateral institutions to bridge the gap between the Global North and South. Tinubu urged the G20 to champion this transformation, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to active participation in the group and supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by 2030.

The Nigerian president also commended Brazilian President Lula da Silva for spearheading the creation of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. He described the alliance as a “significant milestone” in the global fight to eradicate hunger and poverty, emphasizing its potential to address immediate needs while tackling the structural causes of these issues. Tinubu stressed that the initiative aligns with his administration’s commitment to achieving SDG 1 and SDG 2, which focus on eradicating poverty and achieving zero hunger, respectively.

In his closing remarks, Tinubu praised Brazil’s leadership in fostering collaboration between governments, international organizations, and civil society, highlighting the alliance as a bold step toward global solidarity.