Abbas demands permanent UNSC seat for Africa

Nigeria rising stronger from insecurity, poverty, says Akpabio

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has demanded the creation of a permanent seat for Africa at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

This was as Senate President Godswill Akpabio said, “Nigeria is becoming stronger and more resilient” despite challenges of insecurity, economic hardship and social unrest.

Speaking at the ongoing World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments in Geneva, Switzerland, Abbas said that with a population of over 1.4 billion, the continent deserves a seat at the global decision-making body.

The continent, he added, must move from the margins to the centre, where key decisions are made.The five permanent members of the UNSC are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US).

For years, there has been a clamour for Africa to be represented in the UNSC, a body believed to be the most powerful UN organ. “Nigeria’s parliamentary resolve extends to global advocacy. We call for urgent reform of the UNSC and Bretton Woods system to reflect Africa’s 1.4 billion-strong demographic reality, moving the continent from the margins to the centre of global decision-making.

“In this turbulent era, the 10th house of representatives and the Nigerian national assembly align themselves with global parliaments to forge a future where cooperative multilateralism triumphs, delivering peace, justice, and inclusive prosperity for all,” Abbas said.

Speaking on global upheavals, including geopolitical conflicts, climate disasters and inequalities, Abbas said Africa bore the “heaviest impact” of the challenges.

“Conflicts in Sudan displace millions; coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger destabilise the Sahel, and climate change, despite Africa’s mere four per cent of global emissions, causes widespread destruction,” Abbas said. “Nigeria, Africa’s democratic and economic powerhouse, struggles with banditry, economic hardships forcing half of its population into poverty, and climate-induced desertification and flooding.”

However, Akpabio said Nigeria continued to confront its troubles with courage and legislative reforms. “I come from a nation that has endured fire and risen from ashes. A nation that keeps sailing through storms and rough weather,” he said. While acknowledging the ongoing battle against terrorism, armed conflicts and poverty, he said Nigeria refused to be defined by the problems.

“We are not defined by what we face, but by how we rise. In the furnace of turmoil, we are becoming stronger, wiser and more determined to build a greater nation,” the Senate President said.

Noting that the Nigerian legislature is driving national recovery through targeted reforms aimed at security, education and innovation, Akpabio cited recent legislative interventions, including the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons Act, the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, and the Out-of-School Children Education Act as part of efforts to build a more secure and inclusive society.

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