Africa should be adequately represented on UN Security Council, Buhari says

Muhammadu Buhari, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Tuesday pushed for a permanent seat for Africa in the United Nations Security Council.

Buhari,also sought for  the establishment of United Nations Agency for Youths, saying it will enable countries take advantage of the number of youths and their creative energy. He told the Assembly that majority of the population in Nigeria were youths as well as other member states.

He highlighted that Africa’s permanent membership on the UN Security Council would reflect equitable and fair representation and greater transparency.

“Nigeria is ready to serve Africa and the world on a reformed Security Council to advance international peace and security,” he told the gathering.

“Africa should be adequately represented on the United Nations Security Council as a permanent member.

“Nigeria therefore reiterates its call for the reform of the united Nations security council in particular to reflect equitable and fair representation and greater transparency, legitimacy and inclusiveness in its decision making.

 

On harnessing youth potentials for growth, the President said: “We must take advantage of the numbers and creative energy of young people who are in the majority in Nigeria and in most other member states. “We acknowledge the importance of youths in national development and remain committed to harnessing the potential of the increasing youth bunch.

“Therefore, at the international level, we call for the establishment of United Nations Agency for Youths to achieve this strategic objective,” stated Buhari

‘Terrorism Can Be Dethroned’

On terrorism, Buhari recapped Nigeria’s commitment to fighting terrorism, giving a breakdown of efforts in the northeast of the oil-rich nation to end the activities of Boko Haram terrorists.

“We in Nigeria, having been victims of terrorism ourselves, have made remarkable progress in our resolve to defeat Boko Haram whose capacity to launch attacks has been severely degraded.

“In the last few months their operations have been reduced to using IEDs on soft targets.

“International consensus should collaborate in combatant efforts against terrorism.

“Nigeria has continued to combat terrorism based on established rules of engagement and in conformity with international best practices.

“The Nigerian government is employing judicial tool to investigate and treat cases of human rights violations,” he stated.

Collaborations with Chad, Niger and Cameroon have contributed largely to the decimation of Boko Haram terrorists in the northeast,  Buhari told to the Assembly, urging countries battling terrorism to adopt the strategy.