President Bola Tinubu has called for bold reforms in the UN Security Council with a view to giving Nigeria and other African countries permanent seats at the council.
“Our continent deserves a place in the permanent members category of the security council, with the same rights and responsibilities as other permanent members,” the president said.
Mr Tinubu made the call while addressing world leaders at the ongoing 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, United States.
President Tinubu is represented at the global forum by his Vice-President, Kashim Shettima.
In a statement issued by the spokesperson of Mr Shettima, Mr Stanley Nkwocha, on Wednesday, the president stressed that it has since become imperative for the UN to strengthen its relevance and credibility in a rapidly changing world.
“Some permanent members of the United Nations Security Council have offered encouraging, if tentative indications of support on the issue of reform of the council.
“We welcome the change in tone and urge an acceleration in momentum to the process.
“The security council should be expanded, in the permanent and non-permanent member categories, to reflect the diversity and plurality of the world.
“We fully support the efforts of Secretary-General Guterres in this regard. Africa must be accorded the respect that it deserves in the security council,” the president added.
(NAN)
