Nigeria has secured the support of some West African nations in its quest for a permanent seat on the United Nations, UN, Security Council, according to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar.
Tuggar disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja, detailing recent diplomatic efforts aimed at securing regional backing for Nigeria’s bid.
The UN Security Council, established in 1945, currently has 15 members, including five permanent members—the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, and France—each with veto power. In addition, there are 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms without veto power.
Despite Africa having 54 member states within the UN, the continent lacks permanent representation on the Security Council.
The United States has proposed that two permanent seats on the council be reserved for African countries, with Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt identified as strong contenders.
Tuggar, who recently led a Nigerian delegation to Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, and Guinea Bissau, explained the purpose of the visits, saying, “Everywhere we went, we had the opportunity to discuss and solicit support for Nigeria’s intention to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council because this is something that is a hot topic at the moment.”
He added that the countries visited “said they are in the same region but they know there is no other country that is best suited, best qualified to speak on behalf of the continent more than Nigeria and they assured us of their support when the time comes.”
He also noted that “some volunteered even to start doing that groundwork right away.”
In addition to the Security Council seat, the delegation discussed Nigeria’s candidate, Femi Elias, for a position at the International Court of Justice, with the visited nations pledging their support.
Tuggar described the outreach as “just the first phase of this shuttle diplomacy within the West Africa region,” noting that the effort would resume after a brief break due to other engagements.
Highlighting the need for African representation, Tuggar stated that “68 per cent of decisions made at the Council involved Africa, yet there is no African country with a permanent seat there.”
He emphasised, “So, it’s important that Nigeria is in there, it’s important that Nigeria represents and speaks for not just ourselves, not just our region, not just the continent but for the world as a whole.”
According to Tuggar, President Bola Tinubu is “pushing hard, fully committed” to Nigeria’s bid, adding that the nation’s campaign has received strong backing from the United States, which recently issued a statement in support of African seats on the UN Security Council.
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