From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
The Federal Government, has called for the allocation of two permanent seats to the African continent in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
The Government also said it was sad that Africa was the only region in the world without a permanent seat in the council and a veto.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, made the call in an interview with journalists on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), in New York, United States.
Onyeama, a former Deputy Director-General of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), said the allocation of two permanent seats to Africa will make the United Nations a fair and more equitable organisation.
Onyeama hailed President Joe Biden of the United States who called for the reformation of the United Nations during his address, for speaking out on the issue which he said, was one of the major highlights and takeaways of the 77th UNGA.
Onyeama further said the call by Biden for the reformation of the council was in tandem with what African countries had been calling for over the years.
“President Biden’s call for the reformation of the UN Security Council is preaching to be converted. We have been calling for that as developing countries. Africa is the only region of the world that neither have a permanent seat in the security council nor a veto,” Onyeama said.
Speaking further, Onyeama noted that African leaders have been making such requests, adding that the allocation will make the United Nations a fair and more equitable organisation in terms of representation.
“We will be calling for Africa to be given two permanent seats in the security council. It is something that we have been demanding for a long time,” Onyeama also said.