Vice President Kashim Shettima has renewed Nigeria’s call for reform of the United Nations Security Council, arguing that Africa’s continued exclusion from permanent membership weakens the legitimacy of the global governance system.
Shettima made the remarks during a meeting with UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
He praised UN Secretary-General António Guterres for supporting a more representative Security Council and said Africa should not be expected to bear the consequences of global decisions without an equal voice in shaping them.
“A continent cannot be summoned to bear the burdens of the international order and then denied an equal hand in directing it,” Shettima said.
The Vice President said Nigeria would continue to support reforms intended to make international institutions more representative, responsive and credible.
He also stressed the importance of international law, human dignity and the humanitarian consequences of war and displacement.
Shettima praised Amina Mohammed’s role in multilateral diplomacy and said Nigeria would remain a partner in efforts to rebuild trust among nations and strengthen international cooperation.
Mohammed thanked President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian government for supporting the United Nations and her office.
The meeting was attended by Nigerian governors, ministers and senior diplomatic officials.
