Luanda, Angola – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, told the 7th African Union–European Union Summit on Monday that Africa must secure permanent seats with veto power on the United Nations Security Council. Speaking at the plenary session on Peace, Security, Governance and Multilateralism, he said: “It is time for Africa to occupy permanent seats on the UN Security Council, with all attendant privileges, including the veto. Genuine text‑based negotiations under the Intergovernmental Negotiations framework must now commence. It is our hope that EU Member States will support Africa’s long‑standing and legitimate call for reform of the United Nations.”
The President linked the demand for a stronger African voice in global governance to the continent’s security challenges, noting that over 250,000 Boko Haram‑affiliated individuals had surrendered in early 2025 following Nigeria’s kinetic and non‑kinetic measures. He added that as of early 2025, over 120,000 Boko Haram‑affiliated individuals, including family members, have surrendered, and highlighted the Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad Basin as an effective model of African‑led cooperative security.
Tinubu urged the European Union to co‑create peace and security initiatives anchored on African‑led frameworks, stating: “Recent experience has shown that externally driven initiatives, however well‑intentioned, cannot succeed at pace without strong regional ownership and a grounded understanding of local dynamics. Peace and security initiatives must therefore be co‑created with African partners and anchored in African‑led frameworks.” He also warned against the use of private military and security companies on the continent, saying their presence “often complicates resolution efforts and undermines state sovereignty.”
On irregular migration, the President advocated for structured labour pathways, citing Nigeria’s Technical Aid Corps and Business Process Outsourcing as avenues for the country’s youthful population to contribute to Europe’s labour needs without resorting to dangerous routes. He said: “Seasonal mobility has underpinned West African civilisation for centuries — the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement simply acknowledges this reality. Our joint task is to convert mobility into safe, orderly, and productive pathways that benefit both continents.”
Tinubu also condemned unconstitutional changes of government in Africa, calling for the Regional Partnership for Democracy to strengthen constitutional order and counter extremist narratives across West Africa. He referenced the conflicts in Sudan and South Sudan, urging accountability for external actors fuelling the crises and supporting renewed diplomacy.
The summit, held in Luanda from November 24‑25, 2025, was attended by senior officials from the AU and EU, including the Nigerian delegation led by National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Attorney General Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa, among others.
The State House press release was issued by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications, Office of the Vice President, on 24th November 2025.
