President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a strong call for reform at the United Nations, warning that the global body risks losing credibility if it continues to lag behind the demands of a fast-changing world.
Delivering Nigeria’s statement to the 80th UN General Assembly on Wednesday through Vice President Kashim Shettima, Tinubu accused the organisation of falling short in addressing humanitarian crises, particularly in the Middle East. “These are stains on our collective humanity,” he said.
Central to his message was Nigeria’s long-standing demand for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. “Nigeria must be at the table,” he declared, adding that the UN will only regain relevance when it reflects “the world as it is today, not as it was decades ago.”
The president also pushed for a radical overhaul of the international financial order. He called for a new legal mechanism to manage sovereign debt—comparable to an “International Court of Justice for finance”—to help emerging economies escape cycles of economic dependency.
Addressing the Palestinian question, Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s support for a two-state solution. “We say without hesitation: Palestine deserves peace, dignity, and equality. Its people are not collateral in the struggle for order,” he asserted.
Tinubu also emphasised Africa’s vast mineral wealth, insisting that producing countries must benefit fairly through local processing, job creation, and equitable partnerships.
He argued that global investment in African mineral development could ease tensions between major powers while diversifying supply chains.
On technology, he called for urgent steps to bridge the digital divide, insisting that artificial intelligence must mean “Africa Included” if the world is to share in its opportunities.
Domestically, Tinubu admitted that Nigeria’s economic reforms have been painful but necessary. “We have removed subsidies and dismantled distortions. These steps are difficult, but they are laying the foundation for shared prosperity,” he explained.
On terrorism, Tinubu underlined Nigeria’s lesson that ideology—not just force—wins the long war. “Military action can bring short-term victories, but enduring peace rests on values and ideas,” he said.
The president said: “We must act decisively. If we fail to change, the world will move on without us.” He reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to multilateralism, peace, development, and human rights.
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