Nigeria could soon realise its long-standing ambition of securing a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, according to the country’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim. He expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu’s sustained diplomatic engagement and advocacy for UN reforms would help achieve the objective.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today onThursday, July 16, Ibrahim said Tinubu has consistently challenged the continued exclusion of African nations from the Security Council’s permanent membership. He noted that the President has made the issue a key part of Nigeria’s foreign policy, urging reforms that would ensure Africa, particularly Nigeria, is permanently represented in the UN’s highest decision-making body.
According to Ibrahim, Tinubu has repeatedly questioned the absence of any African nation among the Security Council’s five permanent members and has used international engagements to press for reforms that would correct what he described as a longstanding imbalance in global governance. He noted that the President considers the issue a priority in Nigeria’s foreign policy agenda.
“His major argument is that why is it that United Nations did not admit any African country into the permanent seat of the Security Council. This worries him a lot.”
The envoy said Tinubu’s speeches at international forums have consistently reflected his dissatisfaction with the current structure of the Security Council and his determination to see Africa, particularly Nigeria, gain permanent representation.
“His speeches that he delivered pointed to the fact that he was not happy with the idea of UN not admitting Africa, particularly Nigeria, to the Security Council.”
Ibrahim acknowledged that reforming the Security Council would not be easy because the institution was created about eight decades ago, before many African countries gained independence. Nevertheless, he said ongoing international discussions on UN reforms provide grounds for optimism and expressed confidence that Nigeria’s aspiration would eventually be realised under Tinubu’s leadership.
“The good news is I can assure you that President Tinubu will secure a Security Council seat very soon.”
He also disclosed that Tinubu had discussed the issue with Ghanaian President John Mahama, whose recent diplomatic efforts contributed to the United Nations’ recognition of the transatlantic slave trade as one of the gravest crimes against humanity. Ibrahim said such developments demonstrate Africa’s growing influence in shaping global decisions and strengthen the case for expanded African representation on the Security Council.
The United Nations Security Council currently consists of five permanent members—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States—alongside ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms. Nigeria, which last served as a non-permanent member between 2014 and 2015, has for years advocated reforms that would grant Africa permanent representation, citing its peacekeeping contributions, population and strategic role on the continent.
