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We’re Qualified To Represent Africa, Nigeria Makes Case For UN Security Council Seat

Published

11 months ago

January 24, 2025

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Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar has called for a permanent seat for Africa in the United Nations, UN, Security Council while making a case for Nigeria as the country that should represent the continent in the global body.

A statement by the Minister’s Special Assistant on Media and Communication Strategy, Alkasim Abdulkadir, said Tuggar spoke during a panel discussion on the theme, ‘Africa’s Momentum’, at the World Economic Forum summit in Davos, Sweden.

Africa has no permanent seat in the Security Council, arguably the UN’s highest decision making organ.

Tuggar decried the exclusion of Africa in the UN Security Council while stating that about 60 percent of the resolutions of the Council bother on issues that have to do with Africa.

He also noted that many of the laws promulgated by the Council have adverse implications for Africa, including the Deforestation Law which bans the purchase of produce from deforested land in Africa while ignoring the technological companies that produce the machineries that enable deforestation on the continent.

The minister further disclosed that Nigeria’s global outlook under President Bola Tinubu’s administration is premised on the accentuation of the country’s strategic autonomy and nonalignment principle in its relations with the rest of the world.

The panel discussion, which featured other African leaders including the Foreign Ministers of Tunisia, Mohammed Ali Nafti, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, and the Ugandan Minister of Finance, Matia Kasaija, was moderated by the Director of Chatham House, Bronwen Maddox.

The conversation also highlighted the role of Africa in global governance and the implications of the first 2025 G20 Summit scheduled to be held in South Africa.

Tuggar equally made a case for Nigeria becoming a member of the G20.

“The G20 summit in South Africa presents an opportunity for us to make a strong case, in the case of Nigeria becoming a G20 member and of course, South Africa is a brotherly neighbour, we have strong ties,” Tuggar observed.

Highlighting Nigeria’s significant role in not only supporting South Africa’s liberation from Apartheid but also in providing asylum to Thabo Mabaki during the years of South Africa’s struggle for liberation, Tuggar said Nigeria is the country that should represent Africa in the UN Security Council.

Enumerating Nigeria’s strengths and qualifications, and why the country should lead Africa on the global stage, the minister said, “It is important for a country like Nigeria to be a member of the G20 because we are used to making a case for Africa, we have got a lot of goodwill, we have got soft power.”

The minister highlighted the historical contribution of Nigeria to the struggles for Africa’s liberation and fight against racist regimes in the continent.
Tuggar also disclosed that as part of its soft powers, Nigeria through its Technical Aid Corp sends volunteer professionals including medical doctors, engineers, and university lecturers to other African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries to support their development.

Tuggar further stated that Nigeria is a non-threatening power that is friendly with its neighbours and does not have land or boundary disputes, and when such issues come up, they are resolved in most cases with Nigeria conceding to its neighbours. “Nigeria’s nonthreatening nature has earned the trust of its neighbours who support Nigeria to represent them globally,” he observed.

Speaking further, the minister stressed that Nigeria is the only African country with a permanent seat in the African Union’s Peace and Security Council.

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Furthermore, Tuggar said it is important for Nigeria to be at the table because the G20 was created to review global economic and financial issues such as the utilization of Special Drawing Rights to fund the energy transition in Africa. He called for a return to the promises made by developed nations to developing countries during the Rio Summit with regards to the transfer of technology, which he said has gone quiet and Nigeria using its big strong voice can bring it to the fore as a member of the G20.

Responding to what Nigeria would do with the G20 seat, Tuggar submitted that Nigeria would advocate for the reconsideration of the Special Drawing Rights, and push for the consolidation of the global tax reforms which he said was championed by African countries at the United Nations with Nigeria leading the charge, to make the tax system fairer for the Global South countries.

On Nigeria’s expectation from South Africa at the G20 summit, the minister opined that South Africa can make a strong case for fairness, for the process to be more representative, and to become more democratic. He faulted the argument that because Africa is already represented by the African Union and South Africa, the continent should not demand for more representation, citing South America which representation does not attract the same reaction as Africa.

He emphasized that Africa should not be viewed as a single country but as a continent with 54 countries, noting Nigeria’s over 220 million population with a potential to rise to 400 million by year 2050 and the third largest population in the world.

Tuggar said that Nigeria deserves to be represented, given its track record, the size of its economy, and many other factors. He submitted that he expects South Africa to support Nigeria’s case and added that Nigeria is already being invited as an observer.
(DAILY POST)

Headline

British Family Accused Of Boarding Dead Grandmother On EasyJet Flight

Published

1 day ago

December 20, 2025

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A British family has been accused of trying to board a dead relative onto an EasyJet flight from Málaga, Spain, to London Gatwick on Thursday, passengers said.

The woman, reportedly 89 years old, was wheeled onto the plane by five family members, who told airline staff she was unwell and had fallen asleep.

Witnesses said the woman was pushed in a wheelchair to the rear of the plane and lifted into her seat. Some claimed they overheard a family member tell a boarding clerk, “It’s OK, she’s just tired,” adding, “It’s OK, we’re doctors.”

Just before takeoff, the cabin crew realized the woman had died, and the plane was turned around, delaying the flight by 12 hours.

Petra Boddington, a passenger, said: “easyJet, when did you start letting dead people onto planes? Seriously!” Another, Tracy-Ann Kitching, added: “I saw her being wheeled onto the plane; someone was holding her head as they passed me! A doctor on board confirmed that was already dead when they sat her down.”

EasyJet has denied that a deceased person boarded the plane. The airline said the passenger had a fit-to-fly certificate and was alive when she boarded.

“The flight returned to the stand prior to take-off due to a customer on board requiring urgent medical assistance. The flight was met by emergency services, but sadly the customer passed away,” a spokesperson said.

The Guardia Civil in Málaga confirmed officers attended the aircraft, and the woman was declared dead on board. No arrests have been made.

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Russian Strike On Odesa Region Kills Eight, Injures 27

Published

1 day ago

December 20, 2025

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Ukraine’s State Emergency Service has reported at least eight people killed and 27 others injured on Friday night after a Russian ballistic missile strike hit the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa.

According to Ukrainian authorities, the attack targeted port infrastructure facilities in the town of Pivdenne, near Odesa, and damaged nearby civilian vehicles.

The strike came one week after much of Odesa was left without power, heat, and water following a “severe” aerial assault.

“Some of the injured were on a bus that was at the epicenter of the shelling. Trucks caught fire in the parking lot, and cars were also damaged,” the State Emergency Service said.

Emergency officials said the deaths occurred at a port infrastructure facility. Medical teams and first responders were deployed after the strike, but their work was disrupted by “ongoing air raid alerts,” according to Oleh Kiper, head of Odesa’s regional administration.

Russia has carried out repeated attacks on Odesa in recent days, damaging port facilities, civilian vessels, and key infrastructure.

Two major bridges linking the northern and southern parts of the Odesa region have also been hit, with repairs under way, Kiper said.

Elsewhere, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service reported a “massive” drone attack on the southern Mykolayiv region, which damaged civilian infrastructure and vehicles. No casualties were reported.

Odesa, Ukraine’s largest seaport and a major hub in the Black Sea region, has been a frequent target since the start of the war.

Last week, civilian, energy, and industrial sites in the city suffered extensive damage after what regional officials described as “one of the enemy’s most severe airstrikes,” leaving many areas without power and water.

Russia’s Defence Ministry has not commented on the attack.

Speaking hours before the strike during his annual Direct Line call-in show, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia was yet to “see Ukraine’s readiness for peace”.

“[Russia] is ready for negotiations and for ending the conflict via peaceful means,” Putin said, adding that it was up to Russia’s “Western opponents” to end the war.

(CNN)

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Aircraft Crashes In Owerri With Four Persons Onboard

Published

5 days ago

December 17, 2025

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Photo: File copy

A Cessna 172 aircraft with registration number 5N-ASR, operated by Skypower Express, has crashed at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, Imo State.

The aircraft had departed Kaduna International Airport en route to Port Harcourt International Airport before diverting to Owerri after the crew declared an emergency.

The crash occurred at about 8:00 pm on the airport premises, with four passengers and crew members onboard.

Confirming the incident, the Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji, said the agency had been notified of the crash.

According to the NSIB, the aircraft crashed on the approach area of Runway 17, but no fatalities have been recorded so far.

The statement said: “Following the occurrence, airport emergency services were successfully activated and arrived on site promptly. Reports indicate that there was no post-crash fire, and the runway remains active for flight operations, with other aircraft taking off safely after the incident.

“Efforts are currently underway to coordinate the recovery and evacuation of the distressed aircraft from the crash site to allow for a detailed wreckage examination.”

The NSIB said it has officially activated its investigation protocols in line with its statutory mandate

The Director-General of NSIB, Capt. Alex Badeh Jr., sympathised with the management of Skypower Express over the incident and expressed relief that no lives were lost.

Badeh Jr. added that the Bureau’s investigation team is already coordinating with relevant authorities to secure the crash site and commence a detailed investigation into the cause of the accident.

Two days ago, 11 persons narrowly escaped death as a private jet crash-landed at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, on Sunday morning.

The occupants, including passengers and cabin crew, were safely evacuated amid an intense atmosphere, eyewitnesses told The Guardian.

The private jet, owned by Flybird Aviation, crash-landed at about 9:30 a.m. while approaching Kano Airport en route to Abuja.

The incident attracted urgent attention, with emergency staff and other stakeholders converging at the runway to render rescue operations.

The management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is yet to release an official statement on the incident. Unofficial sources disclosed that the passengers have been taken to an unknown destination.

Several aircraft incidents have occurred at Kano Airport, with several lives lost.

The last incident occurred in May 2002, when an EAS Airline aircraft departed the runway at Aminu Kano International Airport at 1:29 p.m. local time en route to Lagos.