At the World Economic Forum (WEF) summit in Davos, Switzerland, Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, made a compelling argument for Africa to have a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council. Tuggar advocated that Nigeria should be the country to represent the continent, given its leadership role in Africa.

Currently, Africa does not have a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, which is responsible for making important global decisions. Tuggar pointed out that over 60% of the Security Council’s resolutions focus on Africa, yet the continent has no permanent presence in these discussions. He also highlighted how laws, such as the Deforestation Law, negatively impact Africa, even though the continent is not involved in making those decisions.

Tuggar also shared insights into Nigeria’s foreign policy under President Bola Tinubu, stressing the country’s approach of strategic autonomy and nonalignment in its global relationships. He mentioned Nigeria’s strong historical ties with other African nations, particularly South Africa, noting the country’s vital role in the fight against apartheid.

Additionally, Tuggar made the case for Nigeria to join the G20, a global forum for the world’s largest economies. He explained that Nigeria’s inclusion would allow the country to push for fairer economic policies and advocate for the needs of developing nations, particularly in areas like global tax reforms.

With its large economy, political stability, and commitment to peacekeeping across Africa, Nigeria is well-positioned to lead on the global stage. Tuggar’s message at the WEF summit was clear: Africa’s time for greater representation in global governance has come, and Nigeria should play a leading role in that movement.

In conclusion, Nigeria’s Foreign Minister made a strong argument for the country to have a more significant role in both the UN and the G20, not only for Nigeria’s benefit but for the advancement of Africa as a whole.