The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s push for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), arguing that the government has failed to tackle worsening insecurity at home.
In a statement on Sunday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said it was “an absurdity” for the administration to lobby for a global security role while bandits and insurgents “ravage communities and kill Nigerians at will.”
The ADC also questioned Tinubu’s absence from the passing-out parade and commissioning of new officers at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, on Saturday.
Despite the backlash, Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented Nigeria at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, secured commendation from UN Secretary-General António Guterres for Nigeria’s UNSC bid.
Shettima also used the global platform to market Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition opportunity, push for comprehensive UN reforms, and call for Africa to gain more control over its $700 billion mineral wealth.
On the sidelines of UNGA, the Vice President deepened partnerships with the UK on trade, defence and migration, engaged the Gates Foundation on healthcare and education initiatives, and pitched Nigeria as the hub for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)’s $3.4 trillion market.
Shettima also held talks with African Development Bank (AfDB) President, Dr Sidi Ould Tah, securing renewed commitments for the second phase of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme.
The expansion will extend climate-resilient infrastructure and agro-industrial growth to 24 more states, beyond the initial eight and the FCT.
While hailing Nigeria’s youthful population and vast agro-ecological potential, Shettima appealed for AfDB to increase funding support beyond traditional micro, small and medium enterprises, stressing the country’s determination to diversify away from oil.
Tah, in turn, pledged to position AfDB as a “catalyst for mobilising global capital to Africa.”
Shettima also met with St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister, Dr Terrance Drew, where both leaders pledged to strengthen Africa-Caribbean economic and cultural ties.
For the ADC, however, Nigeria’s international lobbying remains “laughable” until the government demonstrates both the will and capacity to secure its citizens.