Nordic countries have expressed their support for Nigeria’s call to reform the United Nations, particularly advocating for increased African representation on the UN Security Council. The commitment was made during a joint visit to Nigeria by the foreign ministers of Finland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden on Tuesday.
The ministers emphasized the importance of addressing Africa’s under-representation in global governance during their meeting with Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, at Tafawa Balewa House in Abuja. The visit marked the first joint diplomatic mission of Nordic countries to Nigeria outside Europe.
Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Tobias Billström, acknowledged Nigeria’s significant role in both regional and global affairs, particularly in promoting peace and international cooperation. He highlighted the long-standing diplomatic ties between Nigeria and the Nordic countries, spanning over 60 years, and underscored the importance of enhancing trade and investment relations.
Billström also reiterated the Nordic countries’ support for expanding the UN Security Council’s membership, both in its permanent and two-year elected categories, to better reflect Africa’s role in international politics. “The role and importance of African countries in international politics is greater than ever,” he said, noting Nigeria’s leadership within ECOWAS and its commitment to international law.
Echoing Billström’s sentiments, Iceland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir, emphasized the shared values between Nigeria and the Nordic countries, particularly the commitment to a rules-based international order and stronger African representation in multilateral systems.
Denmark’s Under Secretary for Foreign Policy, Eva Marie Frida Barløse, and Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Elina Valtonen, both highlighted the visit’s importance in deepening the partnership and friendship between Nigeria and the Nordic nations. Norway’s State Secretary for International Development, Bjørg Sandkjær, also praised the close collaboration on democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
In response, Ambassador Tuggar welcomed the Nordic countries’ support for UN reform and Nigeria’s aspiration for a permanent seat on the Security Council. He also commended their efforts in promoting peace and security in the Lake Chad region and expressed Nigeria’s interest in further cooperation, particularly in areas such as the circular economy.
The meeting underscored the shared commitment to strengthening democratic ideals and global governance, with both Nigeria and the Nordic countries seeking to enhance their roles in shaping international institutions.
