The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has called for Africa’s inclusion as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council while positioning Nigeria as the continent’s ideal representative.
Tuggar, who spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Sweden, on Tuesday, during a panel discussion tagged “Africa’s Momentum,” noted the glaring exclusion of Africa from the Council despite the fact that approximately 60 percent of its resolutions pertain to African issues.
“Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has canvassed for Africa’s permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council while advocating for Nigeria’s suitability to represent Africa on the global body,” according to a statement signed by the minister’s media aide, Alkasim Abdulkadir, on Wednesday.
In the statement, Tuggar criticised existing policies that disproportionately impact Africa, such as the UN Council’s Deforestation Law, which penalises African nations for deforestation while ignoring the global corporations that enable it.
He also emphasised Nigeria’s non-aligned foreign policy and strategic autonomy under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, advocating fairness in global governance and Africa’s active role in decision-making.
The panel, moderated by Chatham House Director Bronwen Maddox, featured prominent African leaders, including Tunisia’s Foreign Minister Mohammed Nafti, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Therese Wagner, and Uganda’s Finance Minister Matia Kasaija.
Discussions centred on Africa’s role in global governance and the upcoming G20 Summit in South Africa.
Tuggar underscored Nigeria’s historical contributions to African liberation struggles, particularly its support for South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement.
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“The G20 Summit in South Africa presents an opportunity for us to make a strong case, in the case of Nigeria becoming a G20 member and of course, South is a brotherly neighbour, we have strong ties,” he stated.
He highlighted Nigeria’s soft power initiatives, such as the Technical Aid Corps, which deploys professionals to African, Caribbean, and Pacific nations to support development.
Tuggar also pointed out Nigeria’s unique position as the only African nation with a permanent seat in the African Union’s Peace and Security Council.
Advocating Nigeria’s inclusion in the G20, Tuggar argued that the country’s economic size, population of over 220 million (projected to reach 400 million by 2050), and global influence make it a strong candidate.
The minister stated, “It is important for a country like Nigeria to be a member of the G20 because we are used to making a case for Africa, we have got a lot of goodwill, we have got soft power.”
He called for the reassessment of Special Drawing Rights to fund Africa’s energy transition and a revival of technology transfer commitments made during the Rio Summit.
Tuggar also addressed criticisms of Africa’s representation in global forums, emphasising that the continent’s 54 nations should not be treated as a single entity.
He encouraged South Africa, host of the 2025 G20 Summit, to advocate for a more democratic and representative global system, and expressed confidence that South Africa would support Nigeria’s bid for greater inclusion.
By Gift Habib @ThePUNCH
