Nigeria has renewed its call for a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council and stronger reforms in global financial systems.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima delivered the statement on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the general debate of the 80th UN General Assembly in New York on September 24, 2025.

“The United Nations will recover its relevance only when it reflects the world as it is, not as it was,” Shettima said, arguing that Nigeria’s population size, peacekeeping record, and regional influence make its case for Council membership a demand for fairness.

The Vice-President outlined four priorities: UN Security Council reform, urgent debt relief and fair access to finance, equitable benefit for resource-rich nations, and bridging the digital divide.

He emphasised that “AI” must stand for “Africa Included”, calling for greater global cooperation on technology.

On security, Shettima warned that “military tactics may win battles, but it is values and ideas that deliver ultimate victory,” stressing Nigeria’s long fight against insurgency and support for peacekeeping across Africa.

He also urged debt restructuring to support economic growth, citing Nigeria’s reforms and Africa’s potential in trade, minerals, and manufacturing.

“We need urgent action to promote debt relief—not as charity but as a path to shared prosperity,” he said.

Reaffirming Nigeria’s stance on the Middle East crisis, Shettima called a two-state solution “the most dignified path to lasting peace for the people of Palestine.”

He concluded by pledging Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to peace, development, and multilateralism: “For none of us is safe until all of us are safe.”