vVice-President Kashim Shettima has returned to Abuja from Luanda, Angola, after representing President Bola Tinubu at the seventh African Union–European Union,AU–EU, Summit.
Shettima delivered the Nigerian leader’s statement during the plenary session on Peace, Security, Governance and Multilateralism, reinforcing Nigeria’s push for Africa to secure permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council, complete with veto powers.
Shettima departed South Africa on Sunday for Angola following his participation at the 2025 Group of 20 (G20) Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, where he also represented Tinubu.
In Luanda, he stressed the need for urgent reform of global governance systems, reflecting Nigeria’s longstanding position that Africa’s inclusion at the UN Security Council is both necessary and overdue.
In his statement, Tinubu tasked the European Union with co-creating peace and security initiatives alongside African partners, anchored in African-led frameworks to ensure sustainable stability across the continent.
He highlighted the importance of preventive diplomacy, inclusive governance, and long-term investment in human capital and infrastructure to address regional challenges such as terrorism, insurgency, and irregular migration.
Shettima also conveyed Tinubu’s emphasis on the effectiveness of African-led cooperative security initiatives, citing the Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad Basin and the recent Sea-Lift Agreement between the Nigerian Navy and the AU Standby Force, which enhances rapid deployment for peacekeeping and humanitarian missions.
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The Vice-President underscored the President’s call for structured labour mobility programs, including Nigeria’s Technical Aid Corps and Business Process Outsourcing opportunities, as solutions to irregular migration.
Tinubu’s statement warned that criminalising movement exacerbates insecurity and encouraged safe, orderly, and productive pathways benefiting both Africa and Europe.
Shettima highlighted Nigeria’s commitment to addressing Unconstitutional Changes of Government and supporting democracy through initiatives such as the Regional Partnership for Democracy, which strengthens constitutional order, combats extremist narratives, and promotes governance reforms across West Africa.
On humanitarian crises, the statement noted the devastating conflicts in Sudan and South Sudan, urging accountability for actors fuelling instability and stressing that solutions must be African-led, grounded in regional ownership and local knowledge.
Tinubu reiterated Nigeria’s opposition to the use of private military companies in African conflicts, arguing that their involvement undermines sovereignty and complicates peace efforts.
The Vice-President concluded his mission in Luanda with Nigeria’s message of partnership, reaffirming the country’s readiness to collaborate with the European Union to foster peace, security, and democratic governance across Africa, and build a more stable, just, and prosperous global order.
Crediblenewsng.com
