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President Bola Tinubu stressed the immense significance of Nigeria on the global stage, warning that ignoring the country would have dire consequences for the rest of the world. He expressed this during a meeting with the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, at the UN Headquarters Office in New York City, USA.

Tinubu emphasized the need for action to complement the idealistic narratives presented by world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly. He urged the United Nations to transition from a talk shop into a prominent action coordination center. He expressed concern that a substantial portion of resources intended for the world’s poorest nations is spent on overheads and administrative costs, rather than where it’s needed the most.

The President called for a united effort, particularly in addressing poverty and security challenges. He highlighted his own journey from poverty and detention for democracy advocacy, emphasizing his determination to lead Nigeria toward development and poverty alleviation.

Tinubu stressed the need for tangible results and actions, stating that despite his personal success, he won’t rest until all Nigerians are lifted out of poverty. He emphasized that Nigeria’s vast population, particularly its youth, requires immediate and coordinated action for progress and development.

Tinubu also emphasized that African nations will no longer tolerate situations in which wealthy and powerful nations employ human rights advocacy as a tool to hinder developing economies from taking decisive actions against illicit activities, such as the illegal siphoning and smuggling of Africa’s vast mineral resources. He pointed out that these actions often involve the smuggling of western-made weapons into Africa, which further enriches the world’s wealthiest economies at the expense of Africa’s stability and economic growth.

Tinubu argued, “We are dealing with a significant challenge of individuals exploiting our lands and oppressing our people through illegal mining, unlawfully taking our gold and mineral wealth to developed economies through clandestine and violent means against Nigerians. When one person’s human rights are invoked, we must also consider the rights of others, particularly for self-defense. If we resist, they cite ‘human rights,’ but we are now adopting a more assertive stance and questioning motives. We are determined to put an end to what is happening in our country, and we seek your effective collaboration.”

In response, the UN Secretary-General stressed that the United Nations is actively engaged in reforms aimed at addressing institutional weaknesses and the lack of decision-making power for developing nations. He acknowledged that over 75 percent of UN resources are generated on behalf of the developing world. Guterres expressed his commitment to reforming the UN to better represent the current global landscape, addressing issues such as debt, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), and equitable access to funding for middle-income countries. He cited a growing political consensus and declarations in this regard, particularly during the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Summit.

Guterres assured Tinubu of the full support of the UN system for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) amid recent military coups in West Africa. He commended Nigeria’s indispensable role in the sub-region and expressed optimism for President Tinubu’s presidency, stating that Nigeria’s success is integral to Africa’s success.