Africa Won’t Bear Global Burdens Without Security Council Power, Shettima Warns, Departs For Abuja

• Vice President Kashim Shettima has warned at the United Nations that Africa cannot continue to shoulder the burdens of the global order while being denied permanent power and meaningful representation on the UN Security Council.

• Shettima said the continent’s continued exclusion from permanent membership of the Security Council undermines the fairness, credibility and legitimacy of global governance, renewing Nigeria’s call for urgent reform of international institutions.

• The Vice President commended UN Secretary-General António Guterres for supporting a more representative Security Council and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening multilateralism.

• Shettima has departed New York for Abuja after representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and leading Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st United Nations General Assembly.

September 28, () – Vice President Kashim Shettima has warned the United Nations that Africa will not continue to bear the burdens of the global order without permanent power on the Security Council, saying the continent’s exclusion from the council undermines the legitimacy of global governance.

Shettima gave the warning during a meeting with UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, on the sidelines of the UNGA81, where he renewed Nigeria’s demand for urgent reform of the United Nations and stronger African representation in global decision-making.

The Vice President said Nigeria would remain a dependable partner in efforts to rebuild trust among nations, defend international law and address hunger, violence and exclusion.

He commended UN Secretary-General António Guterres for his consistent support for a more representative Security Council, particularly his position that a 21st-century council without permanent African representation was “unjust and indefensible.”

“A continent cannot be summoned to bear the burdens of the international order and then denied an equal hand in directing it,” Shettima said.

He maintained that international institutions must become more representative, responsive and credible, stressing that global decisions should reflect contemporary geopolitical and demographic realities.

Shettima also praised Guterres for defending international law and human dignity amid widening global conflicts and rising geopolitical tensions.

“You have remained a voice of reason as individual states drift from the obligations they assumed under the United Nations Charter and the rules of international law,” he said.

The Vice President stressed that sovereignty carries responsibilities and that the power wielded by states should not be treated as a licence to violate international law.

He also warned that diplomacy must not lose sight of the human consequences of war and instability.

“The mother searching for her child, the family driven from home and the hungry child awaiting food must never become abstractions in the language of states,” he said.

Shettima further commended Amina Mohammed for her contributions to multilateral diplomacy and sustainable development, describing her service at the United Nations as a source of pride to Nigeria.

He assured the deputy secretary-general that Nigeria would remain a willing ally in efforts to restore trust among nations and dignity to people affected by hunger, violence and exclusion.

“Nigeria will remain a willing ally in the work of restoring trust among nations and dignity to lives diminished by hunger, violence and exclusion. We owe our children a world in which conscience has authority and the law has meaning,” he said.

The Vice President added that the credibility of the international system would ultimately depend on its ability to respond fairly to human suffering and provide all regions with a meaningful voice in global decision-making.

“Civilisation endures only when the suffering of a stranger becomes a claim on our conscience,” he added.

Amina Mohammed Thanks Tinubu, Nigeria

Earlier, Mohammed expressed gratitude to Nigeria and the administration of President Bola Tinubu for their support for the United Nations and her office as deputy secretary-general.

She described the presence of the Nigerian delegation as a deep honour and thanked President Tinubu for his support.

“It’s deep honour to have your esteemed delegation here to come and surprise me. I am truly honoured and grateful. I want to thank you, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and you for embracing me wholeheartedly not just as the DSG but as a daughter of the soil. He has been an incredible support to me, and he has also supported this institution,” Mohammed said.

Shettima Departs For Abuja

Following the conclusion of his engagements at the 81st United Nations General Assembly, Shettima departed New York for Abuja after representing President Tinubu and leading Nigeria’s delegation to the global gathering.

The Vice President’s departure came after Nigeria used the high-level General Assembly meetings to advance its positions on reform of global institutions, stronger African representation and other issues of importance to the country and continent.

Shettima had led the Nigerian delegation after President Tinubu did not personally attend the General Assembly.

His engagements in New York included high-level diplomatic meetings focused on Nigeria’s foreign policy priorities and the country’s role in efforts to strengthen the multilateral system.

Background

The reform of the UN Security Council has remained a longstanding demand of African countries, which argue that the current structure does not adequately reflect contemporary geopolitical and demographic realities.

The council has five permanent members (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States) all of which possess veto powers, alongside 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.

African countries currently have no permanent seat on the council.

Nigeria has consistently advocated permanent African representation as part of broader reforms aimed at making the global governance system more representative, responsive and credible.