At the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, delivered a wide-ranging national statement on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, placing Nigeria’s foreign-policy priorities within a broader call for reform of global governance.
His presentation went beyond Nigeria’s immediate national interests. It linked peace and security, economic justice, natural resources, technology, climate action and reform of the United Nations to what Nigeria described as the changing realities of the 21st century.
The cross of the address was a straightforward argument; global institutions created in the aftermath of the Second World War must adapt to a world that has changed significantly since 1945. Shettima used Nigeria’s long record of peacekeeping to reinforce the country’s claim to a greater role in international decision-making.
Nigeria has contributed personnel, resources and diplomatic efforts to peace and security operations across Africa, including interventions and missions involving Liberia, Sierra Leone, Darfur, Mali and The Gambia. The contention is significant because Nigeria is seeking to connect its contribution to international peace with its demand for a stronger voice in the institutions that make decisions on global security.
Clinging from Abuja, the issue is way past about occupying a prestigious seat, to see if countries that contribute substantially to maintaining international peace, should also have a meaningful role in shaping the rules under which that peace is pursued.
Another major element of Shettima’s presentation, base on a prevailing economic-justice and the burden of debt, was the call for reform of the international financial system. He urged stronger action on sovereign debt relief and improved access to trade and development financing for poorer and developing countries. The concern is that high debt burdens and expensive access to capital can restrict governments’ ability to invest in infrastructure, healthcare, education, employment and other development priorities.
With respect to developing economies, the benefits of a more accessible financial system could therefore extend beyond government balance sheets. A greater fiscal space could translate into more investment and stronger capacity to deliver essential services.
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