PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has commended the establishment of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, led by Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Yesterday, he called the alliance crucial in the global battle against hunger and poverty during his remarks at the opening session of the 19th G20 Leaders Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Tinubu commended the initiative as a significant move to tackle one of the world’s most pressing issues.
He stated, “This bold and visionary step highlights Brazil’s leadership in confronting one of the most urgent challenges we face today. The formation of this Alliance represents a major milestone in our global efforts to eliminate hunger and poverty, sending a strong message of solidarity to vulnerable communities worldwide.”
He emphasized that the initiative promotes collaboration among governments, international organizations, and civil society, offering a holistic approach to not only meet immediate needs but also to address the underlying causes of hunger and poverty.
Tinubu linked the global initiative to one of the eight priority areas he outlined at his inauguration 18 months ago, expressing Nigeria’s commitment to adopting international best practices for economic development.
According to President Tinubu, Nigeria’s support for the declaration to join the Global Alliance is a crucial step in combating hunger and poverty by utilizing international cooperation and resources to enhance domestic strategies.
He noted that Nigeria’s backing of the initiative also reflects a strong commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1, which focuses on poverty eradication, and SDG 2, aimed at ending hunger.
“These goals are central to Nigeria’s development agenda, and the Alliance provides a platform to expedite progress toward them,” he stated. “By collaborating with international partners, Nigeria seeks to harness best practices, innovative solutions, and financial support to strengthen its efforts against poverty and hunger. This endorsement reinforces Nigeria’s role as a key player in global sustainable development efforts and improving the living standards of its citizens.”
President Tinubu also stressed the urgent need for reform of the United Nations Security Council to maintain its relevance in global interventions, reiterating Nigeria’s readiness to represent Africa in this elite body. He urged the G20 to advocate for this important reform, particularly following the African Union’s admission as a group member.
He remarked, “The Security Council should expand its permanent and non-permanent member categories to better reflect global diversity and pluralism. Africa deserves priority in this process, and two permanent seats should be allocated to it with equal rights and responsibilities. Nigeria is prepared to serve as Africa’s representative in this capacity.”
In a statement delivered by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, President Tinubu noted that the G20 is evolving into a forward-looking institution that promotes reform-minded multilateralism. He commended the G20’s decision to grant permanent membership to the African Union and its ongoing tradition of inviting guest countries to participate.
He stated that this broad participation fosters more inclusive and effective discussions on shared global challenges.
“Some permanent members of the Council have shown promising signs of support for this process, which is a positive development. We welcome this shift in attitude and advocate for a quicker pace of the long-overdue change.”
Tinubu pointed out that the world faces numerous challenges, including extreme poverty, inequality, climate change, terrorism, and global conflicts, all exacerbated by persistent inequities in the global governance system. He emphasized the need for pragmatic solutions to address these imbalances, particularly in global taxation, which significantly affects developing countries.
“The current international tax system, largely influenced by wealthier nations, often disadvantages developing countries, especially in taxing digital economies. This systemic imbalance has resulted in substantial revenue losses, hindering our sustainable development and economic self-reliance efforts,” he explained.
President Tinubu highlighted Nigeria’s leadership, along with other African Group states, in advocating for a historic initiative at the United Nations to establish a framework convention on tax aimed at creating a more equitable and inclusive global tax system. He urged the G20 to respond to the calls from countries, particularly in the global South, for reform of the international financial architecture.
“Multilateral institutions must be reformed to bridge the gap between the Global North and South. This is the future path that the G20 should champion. Nigeria is committed to being part of that future through active participation in the G20 and our unwavering support for achieving the SDG 2030 targets,” the President concluded.
