United State (US) President Joe Biden says his country is committed to seeing Africa have two permanent seats at the United Nations (UN) Security Council. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, said Biden stated his stance on Nigeria’s quest for a permanent UN Security Council seat during a phone call to President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday. Tuggar while acknowledging the 30-minute phone call between the Nigerian President Tinubu and the US President Biden, against the backdrop of the release of Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s Head of Finance crime compliance on October 23.
“The two leaders also discussed the issue of permanent seats at the United Nations Security Council and President Biden once again assured that the United States is committed to seeing Africa having two permanent seats.”
“He also reiterated that he does not see any reason why one of those seats should not belong to Nigeria, given its position in Africa, its stature, and its importance”.
Tuggar added that Nigeria has been pushing to ensure that it is included in the G20.
Africa has long clamored for equal representation in what is believed to be the most powerful UN body.
Each year, the UN General Assembly elects five new members from different geographical zones for a two-year term on the Council.
On September 12, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US ambassador to the UN, said: “The problem is these elected seats don’t enable African countries to deliver the full benefit of their knowledge and voices to the work of the council, to consistently lead on the challenges that affect all of us and disproportionately affect Africa.”
Addressing the 79th UNGA session in New York last month, Mohammed Badaru, Minister of Defence, said Nigeria’s long-standing commitment to international peace and security should make the nation a candidate for one of the seats.
