Kashim Shettima, Vice-President of Nigeria, marked in his speech during UN General Assembly, his country’s 25 years of continuous democratic rule but stressed the fragility of democracy, especially in the Sahel, where military coups are on the rise. He called for international efforts to restore confidence in democracy, focusing on economic development, peace, and security.
Shettima highlighted the threat of violent extremism, referencing Nigeria’s leadership in counterterrorism efforts, including the April 2024 High-Level African Counter-Terrorism Meeting and the “Abuja Declaration.”
Addressing global crises, he supported the two-state solution for Palestine, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to UN peacekeeping and calling for international backing for Africa’s Standby Force. He emphasized the need for Africa to have permanent representation on the UN Security Council and urged reform of the international financial system, highlighting the importance of recovering illicit financial flows for sustainable development.
Shettima also called for fair global tax regimes, debt relief for Global South countries, and highlighted natural gas as key to Africa’s energy solutions. On climate action, he anticipated that COP29 in Azerbaijan would provide access to climate funds for African nations.
He urged the UN to reduce barriers to Africa’s digital economy and emphasized the dangers of unregulated new technologies. He also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to safe, orderly, and regular migration under the Global Compact.