By Ayomide Otitoju
President Bola Tinubu has renewed calls for reforms at the United Nations (UN) to secure permanent representation for Africa on the Security Council.
Speaking Wednesday at the plenary session on peace and stability during the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama, Japan, Tinubu said Africa deserves two permanent seats with full privileges, including veto power, as well as additional non-permanent seats.
“It is the view of Nigeria that Africa’s quest for fair and equitable representation in the UN Security Council is a just and fair demand,” Tinubu stated. “Indeed, Africa deserves two seats in the permanent category, with all its prerogatives and privileges, including the right of veto.”
The President stressed that Nigeria’s position aligns with the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration, which call for greater African representation in global decision-making.
Tinubu also praised the Nigerian Armed Forces for recent gains against insurgency and criminality, describing their momentum as a “springboard for national development and stability.” However, he emphasized that military victories alone cannot guarantee peace without tackling poverty, inequality, and exclusion.
“Our brave armed forces can win many battles,” he said. “But we can do justice to their heroism only when we, as governments, display the courage to be tough not only on terror, but also on the causes of terror.”
Citing recent mediation efforts in the Congo that were directly tied to economic investment, Tinubu urged African leaders to embrace fresh approaches to peace-building. He argued that linking diplomacy with development can deliver more sustainable results.
The President also called for cross-border, market-driven partnerships, insisting that Africa must move beyond “hackneyed appeals for aid and handouts” to achieve long-term stability and prosperity.
