President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed strong support for the creation of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, an initiative spearheaded by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Speaking at the opening session of the 19th G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, President Tinubu described the alliance as a transformative step in the global fight against hunger and poverty.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in press release, said Tinubu hailed it as a bold and visionary move that underscores Brazil’s leadership in addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing the world today.
President Tinubu emphasised that the creation of the alliance represents a significant milestone in global efforts to eradicate hunger and poverty, sending a powerful message of solidarity to vulnerable populations across the globe.
He highlighted the initiative’s potential to foster collaboration among governments, international organisations, and civil society, offering not only immediate relief but also long-term solutions to the structural causes of these challenges.
Drawing a parallel to one of the eight priority areas outlined during his inauguration 18 months ago, Tinubu reiterated Nigeria’s readiness to adopt international best practices to advance its economic development.
The President described Nigeria’s endorsement of the declaration of commitment to join the Global Alliance as a meaningful step in the nation’s efforts to address hunger and poverty.
He noted that this partnership leverages international cooperation and resources to strengthen domestic strategies, while also reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1, which focuses on eradicating poverty, and SDG 2, which aims to achieve zero hunger.
He stated that these objectives remain central to Nigeria’s development agenda and that the alliance offers a platform to accelerate progress towards these goals.
By collaborating with international partners, President Tinubu affirmed Nigeria’s ambition to utilise innovative solutions, global best practices, and financial support to enhance its anti-poverty initiatives.
He described Nigeria’s endorsement of the initiative as a reaffirmation of its role as a key player in global efforts to promote sustainable development and improve the quality of life for its citizens.
President Tinubu also used the opportunity to advocate for urgent reform of the United Nations Security Council, calling for its expansion to better reflect global diversity and plurality.
He insisted that Africa deserves priority in this process, advocating for the allocation of two permanent seats with equal rights and responsibilities to the continent.
He reiterated Nigeria’s readiness to represent Africa in this capacity and called on the G20 to champion this noble ideal, especially following its historic decision to admit the African Union as a permanent member of the group.
In a statement read on his behalf by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Tinubu commended the G20’s efforts to promote inclusive and reform-minded multilateralism.
He praised the group’s consistency in inviting guest countries to its discussions, noting that such broad participation enhances the potential for more effective and inclusive deliberations to address shared global challenges.
The President acknowledged the promising signs of support from some permanent members of the United Nations Security Council for this reform process and urged for a faster pace in implementing these long-overdue changes.
He noted that global issues such as poverty, inequality, climate change, terrorism, and conflicts are exacerbated by inequities in the international governance system, which perpetuate unsustainable sovereign debt, distort access to capital markets, and hinder development in the Global South.
Tinubu expressed particular concern over global taxation policies that disproportionately disadvantage developing countries.
He criticised the current international tax system, which he argued has been largely shaped by the interests of wealthier nations, leaving developing economies unable to adequately tax digital industries and resulting in significant revenue losses.
These losses, he said, hinder efforts towards sustainable development and economic self-reliance.
Highlighting Nigeria’s leadership alongside other African states in proposing a framework Convention on Tax at the United Nations, Tinubu called for an equitable and inclusive global tax system.
He urged the G20 to support this initiative and to reform the international financial architecture to bridge the gap between the Global North and South.
Tinubu described this path as essential for a sustainable and inclusive future, emphasising Nigeria’s commitment to active participation in the G20 and its determination to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
