The Minister of Overseas Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has referred to as for Africa’s inclusion as a everlasting member of the United Nations Safety Council whereas positioning Nigeria because the continent’s supreme consultant.
Tuggar, who spoke on the World Financial Discussion board in Davos, Sweden, on Tuesday, throughout a panel dialogue tagged “Africa’s Momentum,” famous the obtrusive exclusion of Africa from the Council although roughly 60 p.c of its resolutions pertain to African points.
“Nigeria’s Minister of Overseas Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has canvassed for Africa’s everlasting membership of the United Nations Safety Council whereas advocating for Nigeria’s suitability to signify Africa on the worldwide physique,” in accordance with a press release signed by the minister’s media aide, Alkasim Abdulkadir, on Wednesday.
Within the assertion, Tuggar criticised present insurance policies that disproportionately affect Africa, such because the UN Council’s Deforestation Regulation, which penalises African nations for deforestation whereas ignoring the worldwide companies that allow it.
He additionally emphasised Nigeria’s non-aligned overseas coverage and strategic autonomy underneath President Bola Tinubu’s administration, advocating equity in world governance and Africa’s energetic function in decision-making.
The panel, moderated by Chatham Home Director Bronwen Maddox, featured distinguished African leaders, together with Tunisia’s Overseas Minister Mohammed Nafti, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Therese Wagner, and Uganda’s Finance Minister Matia Kasaija.
Discussions centred on Africa’s function in world governance and the upcoming G20 Summit in South Africa.
Tuggar underscored Nigeria’s historic contributions to African liberation struggles, significantly its help for South Africa’s anti-apartheid motion.
“The G20 Summit in South Africa presents a possibility for us to make a powerful case, within the case of Nigeria changing into a G20 member and naturally, South is a brotherly neighbour, we’ve sturdy ties,” he said.
He highlighted Nigeria’s delicate energy initiatives, such because the Technical Help Corps, which deploys professionals to African, Caribbean, and Pacific nations to help growth.
Tuggar additionally identified Nigeria’s distinctive place as the one African nation with a everlasting seat within the African Union’s Peace and Safety Council.
Advocating Nigeria’s inclusion within the G20, Tuggar argued that the nation’s financial measurement, inhabitants of over 220 million (projected to achieve 400 million by 2050), and world affect make it a powerful candidate.
The minister said, “It is vital for a rustic like Nigeria to be a member of the G20 as a result of we’re used to creating a case for Africa, we’ve received plenty of goodwill, we’ve received delicate energy.”
He referred to as for the reassessment of Particular Drawing Rights to fund Africa’s vitality transition and a revival of know-how switch commitments made in the course of the Rio Summit.
Tuggar additionally addressed criticisms of Africa’s illustration in world boards, emphasising that the continent’s 54 nations shouldn’t be handled as a single entity.
He inspired South Africa, host of the 2025 G20 Summit, to advocate for a extra democratic and consultant world system, and expressed confidence that South Africa would help Nigeria’s bid for better inclusion.