Sunday Ehigiator
Nigeria has renewed its long-standing demand for permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council, insisting that ongoing reforms within the global body must reflect equity, legitimacy, and inclusiveness.
Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, made the call during an informal plenary meeting convened to hear a briefing on the United Nations reform initiative ahead of the 80th session of the General Assembly.
Speaking during the session, Ibrahim stressed the need for reforms that enjoy broad legitimacy and support from member states, particularly through the inclusion of Africa in the permanent membership of the Security Council.
“We also want to reiterate that reform of this nature requires legitimacy and support of all. This can only be very possible, Madam President, if the ever-yearning demand of Africa for permanent seats in the Security Council of the United Nations is put to bear.”
He argued that reforms aimed at strengthening the global institution must prioritise fairness and representation, particularly for a continent that has consistently called for greater inclusion in international decision-making processes.
The Nigerian envoy further emphasised the importance of accountability and sustainable reforms in global governance, noting that the United Nations should not be exempt from demands for greater stewardship and institutional responsibility.
“Lastly, we believe that there is need for increasing stewardship account of global governance, and the United Nations cannot be an exception to stewardship demand for sustainable efforts in all reforms and in all ramifications,” he said.
According to him, sustainable reforms across all sectors of the organisation would deliver better outcomes than what he described as the “transactional cost of agency theory in global governance.
