Tuggar: African countries are backing our bid for UN security council seat

Yusuf Tuggar, minister of foreign affairs, says Nigeria has gained the support of some West African countries in its bid to secure a permanent seat at the United Nations (UN) security council.

The UN security council, made up of 10 elected states that serve a two-year term and five permanent veto-wielding nations—the US, Russia, China, France, and the UK—is charged with maintaining global peace and security.

Despite having 54 member states in the UN, Africa has no permanent representation in the council.

On September 23, the United States government said it would support the creation of two permanent seats for Africa. Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt are the leading contenders for the position due to their economic, political, and diplomatic influence on the continent.

Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, Tuggar said he recently led a delegation to Togo, Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau to seek their support.

The minister said Nigeria having a seat in the council is crucial as 68 percent of decisions made at the security council involves Africa.

“Everywhere we went, we had the opportunity to discuss and solicit support for Nigeria’s intention to become a permanent member of the United Nations security council, because this is something that is a hot topic at the moment, and all the countries we visited said they are in the same region,” Tuggar said.

“But they know there is no other country that is best suited and best qualified to speak on behalf of the continent more than Nigeria, and they assured us of their support when the time comes.

“So, it’s important that Nigeria is in there; it’s important that Nigeria represents and speaks for not just ourselves, not just our region, not just the continent, but for the world as a whole.

“This is what this administration is ready to do. President (Bola) Tinubu is pushing hard, fully committed to it, and we are getting the right response because, for the first time, the United States came out and issued a statement and said they are fully in support of permanent seats in the United Nations security council for Africa.”

The foreign affairs minister added that the countries also affirmed their support for Femi Elias, who is being projected as Nigeria’s candidate for the International Court of Justice.

“Some volunteered even to start doing that groundwork right away, and the second issue we discussed was the opening that exists in the International Court of Justice where Nigeria is presenting its candidate, Femi Elias, and again, all countries we visited all assured us of their support for the Nigerian candidate, and this is just the first phase of this shuttle diplomacy within the West Africa region,” Tuggar added.

“We had a break because of other engagements happening in between, and as soon as those events are over, we will return to shuttle diplomacy.”