As the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) gets underway, Nigeria has once again placed its bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) at the forefront of its diplomatic agenda. Nigeria made its case for a seat on the Security Council, arguing that it has contributed to at least 41 peacekeeping missions globally and deployed over 200,000 Nigerian troops in UN operations, hence, it deserves a seat on the global security organ. “It is on this basis that Nigeria continues to call for the reform of the United Nations Security Council to give just representation to Africa permanently for inclusivity and deepening of global peace and security,” noted Defence Minister, Mohammed Badaru, while addressing the UNGA, in New York, USA, on Sunday. Badaru spoke at the summit of the Future Interactive Dialogue 2 with the theme “Enhancing Multilateralism for International Peace and Security.”
This quest has become an almost perennial pursuit by successive Nigerian governments, framed as a marker of national prestige, global influence, and recognition of the country’s significance on the world stage. However, beneath this surface-level appeal lies a much deeper question: Is Nigeria’s quest for a security council seat a reflection of its misaligned priorities and a misguided diplomatic crusade?
Nigeria’s bid for a Council seat is rooted in a desire for international prestige. The Council is, after all, one of the most powerful institutions in global governance, wielding significant influence over matters of war, peace, and international security. Having a permanent seat, especially with veto power, would elevate Nigeria to the level of global powerhouses like the USA, China, and Russia. However, Nigeria’s incessant focus on this goal reflects a fundamental misplacement of priorities. The country is embroiled in numerous internal crises, ranging from insecurity, galloping inflation, unemployment, corruption, and economic instability to ethno-religious conflicts and decrepit educational and healthcare infrastructure. Nigeria’s pursuit of international validation, while its domestic challenges remain unresolved, raises questions about the seriousness of its foreign policy agenda.
Insecurity remains one of Nigeria’s most glaring issues. Terrorist activities by groups like Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen and banditry in the northern regions have rendered parts of the country unsafe, displacing millions of citizens. In the southeast, separatist movements like the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) challenge national unity, while herder-farmer conflicts fuel ethno-religious tensions. As of 2023, Nigeria was ranked 143rd out of 163 countries in the Global Peace Index, signaling deep-rooted security concerns at home. How can Nigeria credibly argue for a seat at the global table when it cannot guarantee the security of its citizens? Advocating for global peace and security while failing to address these internal conflicts is a paradox that undermines the legitimacy of Nigeria’s security council bid.
Nigeria has long been regarded as a regional power in West Africa. It has historically played a pivotal role in peacekeeping operations and diplomatic efforts, particularly through its involvement in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and African Union (AU). However, recent events have exposed the limitations of Nigeria’s regional influence. The resurgence of military coups across West Africa in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, highlight the weakening of democratic governance in the region. Nigeria’s attempts to lead diplomatic interventions have often fallen short, with ECOWAS itself appearing ineffective in stemming the tide of unconstitutional changes in government.
Nigeria’s declining influence is also reflected in its waning clout within multilateral forums. While Nigeria continues to advocate for the reform of the security council, specifically the expansion of the permanent members to include African representation; its diplomatic efforts have gained little traction. This is partly because Nigeria’s moral authority on democracy, human rights, and governance has been compromised by its own domestic failings. The recent #EndSARS and #EndBadGovernance protests, which were met with police brutality and suppression by the Nigerian government, exposed human rights violations and eroded the country’s credibility on issues of human rights and good governance.
Furthermore, Nigeria’s weak economic performance undermines its claim to regional leadership. With Africa’s largest population and economy, Nigeria ought to be a beacon of prosperity and development. Instead, the country continues to struggle with high levels of poverty, inflation, and unemployment. The naira’s value has plummeted, public debt has ballooned, and youth unemployment remains at crisis levels, with nearly half of Nigeria’s young population out of work. The World Bank estimates that over 40% of Nigerians live in poverty, despite the country’s wealth in natural resources. Economic instability only serves to weaken Nigeria’s global standing, making its bid for a council seat seem more like a desperate attempt to distract from its domestic failures than a legitimate claim for global leadership. Proponents of Nigeria’s security council bid argue that the country’s demographic and economic size alone warrant its inclusion as a permanent member. They cite Nigeria’s substantial contributions to UN peacekeeping missions, the size of its economy, and its role as Africa’s most populous nation as reasons why it deserves a seat. However, these arguments fall short for several reasons.
Firstly, population size alone does not translate to global leadership. While Nigeria has the largest population in Africa, it is not the most stable, prosperous, or effective at delivering public services. Countries like Rwanda and Botswana, with far smaller populations, have shown more impressive governance and economic development in recent years. Leadership is about more than numbers; it’s about creating a model of stability, democracy, and prosperity that others can follow.
Secondly, while Nigeria has indeed made significant contributions to peacekeeping efforts, this alone cannot justify a permanent seat on the security council. Peacekeeping is a valuable service, but it is not the same as exerting leadership in global governance. Other countries with substantial peacekeeping records, such as Bangladesh and Pakistan, do not have permanent seats on the Council. Leadership in global governance requires more than participation in peacekeeping – it requires a commitment to democratic principles, human rights, and effective governance at home, areas where Nigeria continues to struggle. Finally, Nigeria’s regional leadership is increasingly being questioned. While it remains the most powerful economy in West Africa, the rise of other African powers, such as South Africa, Egypt, and even Ethiopia, has created competition for influence on the continent. South Africa, in particular, has emerged as a leading voice in global governance, with stronger democratic institutions and more effective governance than Nigeria. South Africa’s seat on the Council as a non-permanent member has been used to advance African interests in ways that Nigeria has struggled to replicate.
Nigeria’s quest for a Council seat is emblematic of a country distracted from its most pressing challenges. Rather than focusing on international recognition, Nigeria should prioritize solving its deep-rooted domestic problems: insecurity, economic instability, and poor governance. Until these issues are addressed, Nigeria’s claim to global leadership will remain hollow. The Council seat may represent prestige, but it will not solve the fundamental issues that continue to plague the country. Rather than a seat at the Council, Nigeria’s true leadership challenge lies within its borders. If Nigeria can stabilize its economy, improve governance, and restore security, it will naturally emerge as a global leader. Until then, the pursuit of a Council seat remains a misplaced quest for status over substance, one that will not bring the solutions that Nigeria so desperately needs.
