Nigeria has issued a forceful call for the immediate reform of the global multilateral system, demanding a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council to address the long-standing exclusion of Africa from top-tier international decision-making.
Speaking on Friday at the 18th BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (FMM) in New Delhi, Amb. Dunoma Umar Ahmed, Permanent Secretary of Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, declared that the current international order is no longer sustainable. Representing Nigeria as a BRICS Partner Country, Ahmed emphasized that the world is at a “turning point” where geopolitical rivalries and economic fragmentation are eroding trust in global institutions.
Ending Africa’s Exclusion
The centerpiece of Nigeria’s statement was a direct challenge to the structure of the UN Security Council. Ahmed argued that a continent of 1.4 billion people cannot remain excluded from permanent representation.
”Such exclusion is neither justifiable nor sustainable,” Ahmed stated. “Nigeria stands prepared to assume this responsibility. We are ready to represent Africa’s voice with integrity, balance, and strength.”
Alignment with BRICS Vision
Nigeria’s participation underscores its deepening ties with the BRICS bloc (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). Ahmed praised the platform as a “constructive force” for the Global South, noting that Nigeria’s vision for a multipolar world aligns with the BRICS commitment to:
- Financial Reform: Restructuring international financial institutions to provide emerging economies with a more credible voice and fairer access to development financing.
- Trade Equity: Resisting protectionism and advancing regional integration, highlighted by Nigeria’s leadership in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
- Sovereign Equality: Promoting an international order founded on mutual respect rather than the interests of a “privileged few.”
Domestic Reforms as a Global Model
Ambassador Ahmed linked Nigeria’s international demands to the domestic agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He noted that Nigeria’s “bold and transformative” internal reforms in economic diversification, security, and climate action serve as a template for the kind of leadership the country intends to bring to the global stage.
”Our actions at home… are aligned with the broader call for reform in international governance,” Ahmed said. “Nigeria is prepared to lead by example.”
A Call for Unity
The statement concluded with a plea for “unity of purpose” among BRICS members and other international bodies like the African Union and ECOWAS. Ahmed stressed that the choices made today by global leaders will determine whether governance becomes a true instrument of peace or remains a source of disparity.
The meeting in New Delhi marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s foreign policy trajectory as it seeks to solidify its status as the leading diplomatic and economic voice for Africa within the evolving BRICS+ framework.