“Reform or Risk Irrelevance,” Tinubu Warns World Leaders at UNGA

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on world leaders to embrace far-reaching reforms within the United Nations or risk the organisation sliding into irrelevance. Delivering Nigeria’s statement at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday through Vice President Kashim Shettima, the president insisted that the UN must evolve to reflect current global realities rather than cling to outdated structures.

Tinubu placed Nigeria’s long-standing demand for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council at the heart of his reform agenda, arguing that the Council cannot maintain credibility if it excludes Africa’s largest democracy and most populous nation. “Nigeria must have a permanent seat at the UN Security Council. This should take place as part of a wider process of institutional reform. The United Nations will recover its relevance only when it reflects the world as it is, not as it was,” he said.

He underscored Nigeria’s transformation from a colonised state of 20 million to a sovereign nation of over 236 million people, projected to soon become the third most populous country in the world, with one of the youngest and most dynamic populations. Tinubu expressed frustration with the slow pace of progress on issues that have dominated the UN agenda for decades, including nuclear disarmament, arms proliferation, Security Council reform, equitable access to trade and finance, and the resolution of conflicts across the globe.

Turning to the Middle East, Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He described the Palestinians as human beings entitled to the same rights and dignity as others, insisting that peace cannot come from treating them as collateral in global power struggles.

The president also called for sweeping reform of the international financial system. He proposed the creation of a binding mechanism akin to an “International Court of Justice for money” to manage sovereign debt crises, which he said have trapped many developing economies in cycles of dependency on unprocessed exports. He argued that debt relief should be seen not as charity but as a necessary step towards shared global peace and prosperity.

Africa’s strategic resources featured prominently in his address, with Tinubu emphasising that the continent holds the minerals needed to power future technologies. He urged investment in local exploration, processing, and value addition to ensure that African nations benefit fairly, rather than being relegated to raw material exporters. He warned that continued exploitation without equitable returns would only fuel inequality, instability, and tension.

On technology, Tinubu echoed the UN Secretary-General’s call that “A.I. must stand for Africa Included,” pushing for a new dialogue to close the digital divide. He argued that equitable access to digital tools would narrow the wealth and knowledge gap and ensure that emerging economies could fully participate in the benefits of innovation.

The president positioned Nigeria’s domestic reforms as a model of resilience, stressing the removal of subsidies and currency controls as tough but necessary steps to free the economy from distortions that benefited a privileged few. He insisted that Nigeria’s approach shows faith in the market and in the ingenuity of its people, though he acknowledged the transition is difficult.

Addressing Nigeria’s battle with terrorism, Tinubu said true victory would come not only from military action but from the triumph of ideas and values. He urged world leaders to recommit to multilateralism and to pursue human rights, peace, and development with urgency. “We must make real change, change that works, and change that is seen to work. If we fail, the direction of travel is already predictable,” he warned.

However, Tinubu’s absence from the UNGA itself sparked criticism from diplomats and analysts. For the second consecutive year, he delegated Nigeria’s representation to Vice President Shettima, a move some believe could weaken the country’s global standing. Ambassador Usman Sarki, a former Deputy Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN, warned that repeated absences may erode Nigeria’s diplomatic visibility and diminish opportunities for high-level engagements.

Other diplomats, speaking anonymously, described his absence as a damaging signal, especially as he had travelled to France within the same month. They argued that the UNGA values the physical presence of heads of state, which allows for quicker decision-making and direct bilateral talks. A former diplomat noted that representatives often have to defer to principals before committing on sensitive issues, slowing down diplomatic processes.

Former presidential aide Laolu Akande also weighed in, reminding that “in diplomacy, presence is power and absence is noticed.” He said Tinubu’s absence at a time when Nigeria lacks ambassadors in over 100 diplomatic missions, including the UN, raises troubling questions about the country’s commitment to multilateralism.

Despite these criticisms, Nigeria’s message at the Assembly was unmistakable: the world must reform its institutions, reimagine its financial systems, and respect Africa’s place in shaping the future—or risk sliding into irrelevance.