Kashim Shettima advocates for ECOWAS unity and UN Security Council reform

During the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima advocated for significant reforms to international and regional governance.

Addressing the ECOWAS Commission, Shettima met with its new President, retired General Birame Diop, and urged the leadership to prioritize regional unity, integration, and engagement with emerging blocs like the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). He also emphasized the importance of private sector involvement in the Lagos-Abidjan highway project.

On the global stage, Shettima met with UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed to argue that Africa’s exclusion from permanent membership in the UN Security Council undermines the legitimacy of global governance. He stated that a 21st-century council without permanent African representation is “unjust and indefensible,” noting that the continent should not bear the burdens of the international order without an equal hand in directing it. Shettima reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to UN reforms that reflect contemporary geopolitical realities.