Jimoh Ibrahim: Africa’s Exclusion from the Security Council Is Unjust, Nigeria Pushes for Reform

Ademide Adebayo
Before the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to the UN Charter and the UN‑80 Reform Agenda, while renewing its appeal for permanent African representation on the UN Security Council.

In an interview with ARISE News, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, explained that the country’s recommitment was signed on behalf of President Bola Tinubu. He said it demonstrates confidence in the United Nations and its future role in maintaining global peace.

Ibrahim criticised Africa’s exclusion from permanent Security Council membership, calling it unjust given the continent’s demographic weight. “It is quite unjust, very unheard of to say that Africa, who has a population of 25 percent of the entire world, have no seats in the Security Council of the United Nations,” he said.

He added that Africa’s lack of representation contributes to insecurity on the continent, arguing that global decision‑making must reflect present‑day realities rather than the post‑1945 order. “We are thinking that one of the reasons why we have insecurity in Africa is because Africa is not represented… because if you understand the working of the United Nations Security Council, it means a lot,” he said. The envoy insisted that reforms are overdue, noting that Africa’s 54 countries must have a voice at the highest level of global security governance.

“Now that we are in the contemporary 21st century, I think Africa must have seats in the UN,” he said. Regarding Nigeria’s position, Ibrahim said the country is actively pushing for a Security Council seat as part of broader efforts to restore its international standing. “Nigeria is a giant of Africa… we want to return to that glory, and we must have the seats in the Security Council,” he added.

He said discussions on reform are ongoing within UN structures and argued that the UN‑80 reform agenda would lack credibility if Africa remains excluded. “This seat is imperative to the continuation of the United Nations… and the UN‑80 reform agenda of the UN will never have a place if Africa has no seat in the Security Council,” he said.

On global security challenges, including wars in Sudan, Gaza and Ukraine, Ibrahim said the Security Council operates within the realities of international politics. “In international relations, three things are very important: interest, politics, and power,” he said. He further argued that global conflicts reflect deeper geopolitical tensions and that stability depends on the balance among major powers. Nigeria’s call for reform is expected to feature prominently in discussions at the upcoming UN General Assembly session in New York.