REFORMING THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL: AFRICA’S PERMANENT SEAT AND NIGERIA’S STRATEGIC CANDIDACY

Abstract

The underrepresentation of Africa in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) remains a central challenge to the legitimacy, representativeness and effectiveness of global governance. Although African states constitute a substantial proportion of the United Nations membership and feature prominently in the Council’s peace and security agenda, no African country holds permanent membership. This paper examines the case for Africa’s permanent representation and assesses Nigeria’s strategic candidacy in light of its demographic weight, regional leadership, peacekeeping contributions, diplomatic engagement and commitment to multilateralism. The study adopts a qualitative documentary research design, drawing on United Nations, African Union, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Nigerian policy documents, alongside recent scholarly literature published between 2021 and 2026. It is guided by Representative Legitimacy Theory and Regional Security Complex Theory. The analysis identifies Nigeria’s sustained role in ECOWAS peace and security initiatives, participation in United Nations peacekeeping, hosting of ECOWAS institutions and diplomatic engagement as relevant considerations in evaluating its candidacy. It also identifies constraints relating to continental consensus, competing African aspirations, domestic capacity, financial obligations and the broader politics of Security Council reform. The paper argues that Nigeria presents a substantial case for consideration, while emphasising that selection must remain an African Union decision. It recommends a coordinated African strategy, evidence-based articulation of Nigeria’s credentials, sustained diplomatic engagement and institutional reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s readiness for a permanent role.