Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar has made a strong case for Africa’s inclusion as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. He also positioned Nigeria as the ideal representative for the continent on the global stage.
Speaking during the panel discussion titled “Africa’s Momentum,” Tuggar pointed out the glaring exclusion of Africa from the Security Council, despite the fact that a significant 60 percent of its resolutions pertain to African issues. The Minister expressed his frustration with the lack of African representation at the highest levels of international decision-making.
“Nigeria strongly advocates for Africa’s permanent membership on the UN Security Council, and we firmly believe that Nigeria is best suited to represent Africa in this critical body,” Tuggar said, according to a statement from his media aide, Alkasim Abdulkadir.
Tuggar also criticized certain UN policies that disproportionately affect African nations, such as the Deforestation Law, which penalizes African countries for deforestation without holding global corporations accountable for their role in the problem.
He highlighted the administration of President Bola Tinubu, under which Nigeria continues to pursue a non-aligned foreign policy and strategic autonomy. Tuggar emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to fairness in global governance, stressing the need for Africa to have a more active role in shaping global decisions.
The panel, which was moderated by Bronwen Maddox, Director of Chatham House, also featured other notable African leaders, including Tunisia’s Foreign Minister, Mohammed Nafti, DRC’s Therese Wagner, and Uganda’s Finance Minister, Matia Kasaija. Discussions focused on Africa’s growing influence in global governance and the upcoming G20 Summit in South Africa.
Tuggar used the opportunity to remind the international community of Nigeria’s pivotal role in African liberation struggles, particularly its support for the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. He also pointed to the G20 Summit in South Africa as an ideal platform for making the case for Nigeria’s inclusion in the group, given the country’s economic size, population (over 220 million, expected to reach 400 million by 2050), and global influence.
“Nigeria’s membership in the G20 is crucial,” Tuggar stated. “We are a key advocate for Africa and have a unique position in shaping global conversations. Our goodwill, soft power, and historical contributions make us a strong candidate.”
The Minister also advocated for the reassessment of Special Drawing Rights to help finance Africa’s energy transition and called for a revival of technology transfer commitments made during the Rio Summit.
Tuggar further addressed concerns over Africa’s representation in international forums, urging that the 54 countries of Africa should not be treated as a monolithic entity. He expressed confidence in South Africa’s leadership as the host of the 2025 G20 Summit and believed that the country would support Nigeria’s bid for greater inclusion in the global governance system.
