Nigeria has called for urgent reforms of global governance institutions and demanded greater representation for developing countries, particularly Africa, within the international system.
The call was made by Nigeria’s Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Dunoma Umar Ahmed, during the 18th BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting held on Thursday in New Delhi, India.
Delivering Nigeria’s national statement at the high-level meeting chaired by India’s External Affairs Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Ahmed said the current global governance structure no longer reflects contemporary realities and must be reformed to ensure fairness, inclusiveness, and equity.
He noted that Nigeria was participating in the meeting as a BRICS Partner Country at a time when the world was grappling with interconnected challenges, including geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, climate change, terrorism, food insecurity, and disruptions in global supply chains.
According to him, the BRICS bloc has emerged as a strong voice for the Global South and a platform promoting a more equitable and multipolar international order founded on mutual respect, sovereign equality, solidarity, and shared prosperity.
“Nigeria strongly supports efforts aimed at strengthening multilateralism, reforming global governance institutions and ensuring greater representation of developing countries in international decision-making processes, particularly within the United Nations system and international financial institutions,” he said.
Ahmed warned that global governance and multilateralism, once regarded as the pillars of international cooperation, were facing existential challenges that could no longer be ignored.
He said geopolitical fragmentation and rivalry among states were weakening collective action, while insecurity and conflicts continued to destabilise regions and place pressure on institutions such as the United Nations, African Union, and Economic Community of West African States.
The permanent secretary further argued that growing geoeconomic competition was destabilising trade relations and widening global inequality, while technological divides continued to deepen disparities between developed and developing nations.
He stressed that Africa, with a population of about 1.4 billion people, could no longer remain excluded from permanent representation on the United Nations Security Council.
“Africa, with its 1.4 billion people, cannot continue to be excluded from permanent representation on the United Nations Security Council. Such exclusion is neither justifiable nor sustainable. Nigeria stands prepared to assume this responsibility. We are ready to represent Africa’s voice with integrity, balance, and strength,” he declared.
Ahmed also highlighted reforms being implemented under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing them as bold and transformative measures aimed at strengthening democracy, diversifying the economy, improving national security, and empowering citizens.
He said the reforms demonstrated Nigeria’s commitment to contributing meaningfully to a fair and inclusive global order.
According to him, Nigeria’s domestic reforms in areas such as peace and security, economic diversification, climate action, and youth empowerment aligned with broader international calls for reforms in global governance structures.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to collective solutions through its engagement with the United Nations, African Union, ECOWAS, and BRICS, noting that the country had consistently championed peacekeeping, democracy, and sustainable development.
Ahmed said Nigeria’s vision aligned strongly with BRICS’ commitment to a multipolar world order and support for stronger South-South cooperation.
He called for reforms of international financial institutions to provide emerging economies with a stronger voice and ensure that development financing becomes fairer and more accessible to countries of the Global South.
The Nigerian envoy also expressed support for balanced trade, resistance to protectionism, and regional economic integration, citing Nigeria’s leadership role in the African Continental Free Trade Area as evidence of its commitment to fostering cooperation across developing nations.
In his concluding remarks, Ahmed urged countries to unite in addressing global challenges and work towards building a just, equitable, and resilient international system.
He said Nigeria remained committed to ensuring that global governance evolved into an effective instrument for peace, fairness, and progress.
“Nigeria’s voice is resolute. Reform is essential, inclusivity cannot be compromised, and the choices we make today will shape our collective future,” he stated.
