Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has called for urgent reforms at the United Nations (UN), including granting Nigeria a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, to strengthen peace, development, and human rights around the world.
Speaking on Wednesday at the general debate of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Shettima argued that Africa, despite its wealth in human and natural resources, remains underrepresented in global decision-making. He said Nigeria, as Africa’s largest nation and a stabilising regional power, deserves a voice at the highest level of international security discussions.
“When the UN was founded, Nigeria was a colony of 20 million people, absent from the tables where decisions about our fate were taken. Today, we are a sovereign nation of over 236 million, projected to become the third most populous country in the world, with one of the youngest and most dynamic populations on earth,” Shettima said.
He stressed that Nigeria’s demand is not just about status but about fairness, credibility, and reform of the UN system so it can reflect today’s realities.
The Vice President also urged the UN to prioritise sovereign debt relief and fairer access to trade and financing, especially for developing nations. He insisted that countries rich in minerals must directly benefit from those resources instead of being exploited.
On technology, Shettima warned that the digital divide must be closed, saying Artificial Intelligence (AI) must stand for “Africa Included”.
Shettima declared Nigeria’s full backing for the UN80 Initiative launched by the Secretary-General and the resolution adopted on 18 July 2025 to reform the UN. He said rationalising UN structures, ending duplication of roles, and increasing efficiency are necessary steps for the organisation to “speak with one voice” in solving global challenges.
“No country can achieve peace in isolation,” he added, stressing that sovereignty is a shared responsibility.
Nigeria’s Peacekeeping Legacy
Highlighting Nigeria’s role in global security, Shettima reminded the Assembly that Nigeria has taken part in 51 out of 60 UN peacekeeping missions since independence in 1960.
He said Nigeria continues to work with African partners through the Multinational Joint Task Force to tackle insurgency and regional conflicts.
At home, he acknowledged the long battle against violent extremism but stressed that real victory goes beyond military power.
“Military tactics may win battles in months or years, but in wars that last generations, it is values and ideas that deliver the ultimate victory,” he said.
