The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has urged the inclusion of Africa as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, with Nigeria positioned as the continent’s ideal representative.
Tuggar made this call during a panel discussion titled “Africa’s Momentum” at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Sweden, on Tuesday.
In a statement released on Wednesday by his media aide, Alkasim Abdulkadir, Tuggar highlighted the glaring absence of Africa on the Council, despite the fact that approximately 60 percent of its resolutions address issues affecting the continent.
He stated, “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.”
The minister criticized global policies that unfairly target Africa, including the UN Council’s Deforestation Law, which he argued penalizes African nations for deforestation without holding global corporations accountable.
Tuggar emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to non-aligned foreign policy and strategic autonomy under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, advocating for greater equity in global governance and a more active role for Africa in international decision-making.
The panel discussion was moderated by Chatham House Director Bronwen Maddox and included key African leaders such as Tunisia’s Foreign Minister Mohammed Nafti, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Therese Wagner, and Uganda’s Finance Minister Matia Kasaija.
The discussions focused on Africa’s role in global governance and the upcoming G20 Summit in South Africa.
Tuggar also shed light on Nigeria’s historical contributions to Africa’s liberation movements, particularly its support for South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle.
Highlighting the opportunity presented by the G20 Summit in South Africa, he said, “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.”
The minister pointed to Nigeria’s influence as a key player on the African stage, citing its Technical Aid Corps, which deploys skilled professionals to African, Caribbean, and Pacific nations to foster development.
He also noted Nigeria’s unique role as the only African country with a permanent seat in the African Union’s Peace and Security Council.
Tuggar underscored the importance of Nigeria’s inclusion in the G20, arguing that the country’s economic strength, growing population—currently over 220 million and projected to reach 400 million by 2050—and global influence make it a strong contender.
He remarked, “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.”
In advocating for Nigeria’s inclusion, Tuggar called for a reassessment of Special Drawing Rights to fund Africa’s energy transition and a revival of commitments to technology transfer made during the Rio Summit.
He also addressed concerns about Africa’s representation in international forums, stressing that the continent’s 54 nations should not be viewed as a monolithic entity.
Encouraging South Africa to use its position as host of the 2025 G20 Summit to promote a fairer and more inclusive global system, Tuggar expressed optimism that South Africa would support Nigeria’s bid for enhanced representation.
