President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for sweeping reforms to restore the credibility of the United Nations and global financial systems, urging world leaders to adapt institutions to present-day realities.
Speaking through Vice-President Kashim Shettima at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80) in New York, Tinubu said the world could not afford “the luxury of inaction” in the face of conflicts, climate change, debt crises, and widening inequality.
“The United Nations will recover its relevance only when it reflects the world as it is, not as it was,” Tinubu declared, arguing that Nigeria deserves a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. He noted that while Nigeria was a colony of 20 million when the UN was founded in 1945, it is now a sovereign state of more than 236 million, projected to be the world’s third most populous country.
He outlined four priorities for change which includes:
a) Security Council Reform: that is it’s expansion to reflect current global realities, including Nigeria’s representation.
b) Debt Relief and Fair Financing: as a new binding mechanism for sovereign debt management, “an International Court of Justice for money.”
c) Resource Equity: by ensuring mineral-rich countries to benefit directly from their resources through local processing and jobs, and;
d) Closing the digital divide as a global initiative to expand technology access, declaring that “A.I. must stand for ‘Africa Included.’”
Reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to peace, Tinubu highlighted the country’s participation in 51 of 60 UN peacekeeping operations since 1960. He also backed a two-state solution in Palestine, saying the right to life “should not be trapped in the corridors of endless debate.”
On regional security, he warned against terrorism and extremism, describing them as threats that prey on division and undermine human dignity.
Tinubu further described climate change as a pressing security concern tied to migration, instability, and inequality, urging the UN to channel climate funds into education, resilient housing, and community development.
Referencing Nigeria’s ongoing economic reforms, including subsidy removals and currency adjustments, Tinubu acknowledged the hardship but said they were necessary steps to unlock growth and attract investment.
He pointed to the inaugural West Africa Economic Summit held in Abuja as proof of Africa’s potential when innovation and investment intersect.
Warning against growing disillusionment with multilateralism, Tinubu said: “We must make real change, change that works, and change that is seen to work. If we fail, the direction of travel is already predictable.”
He closed with a reminder of shared responsibility: “For none of us is safe until all of us are safe.”
