By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
Nigeria has secured a permanent seat on the Board of the African Central Bank, marking a major diplomatic and institutional milestone at the African Union level.
The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the development on Friday,13 February, 2026, in a press statement issued by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, following the just-concluded 39th Session of the Executive Council of the African Union.
The session, which reviewed key policy and institutional matters, also highlighted Nigeria’s role in advancing Africa’s economic integration, peace, security, and democratic governance.
According to the minister, one of the most significant outcomes of the meeting was the Executive Council’s agreement to grant Nigeria a permanent seat on the Board of the African Central Bank.
He described the decision as a landmark step that reinforces Nigeria’s strategic influence in shaping Africa’s financial and monetary architecture.
“A major highlight of the session was the Council’s agreement to grant Nigeria a permanent seat on the Board of the African Central Bank,” Tuggar said.
He added that the decision also extends Nigeria’s representation to the Board of the Technical Convergence Committee of the African Monetary Institute, which he noted serves as the precursor to the establishment of the African Central Bank.
“These developments affirm Nigeria’s technical capacity, economic significance, and commitment to advancing Africa’s monetary integration agenda,” he stated.
On peace and security, Tuggar said the session recorded progress through the successful election of candidates collectively endorsed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to the Peace and Security Council of the African Union.
He noted that the outcome reflected regional unity and cooperation.
“In the area of peace and security, the session witnessed the successful election of the candidates collectively agreed upon by the Economic Community of West African States to the Peace and Security Council,” he said.
He stressed that the development demonstrates “strong cohesion, cooperation, and unity among ECOWAS Member States,” as well as a shared commitment to stability and collective security across Africa.
The minister also highlighted Nigeria’s contributions to strengthening democratic governance on the continent, citing the organisation of a Ministerial High-Level Panel Discussion on Regional Partnerships for Democracy.
The event, he said, attracted broad participation from ministers, senior government officials, and delegates from across Africa and the international community.
“Furthermore, Nigeria demonstrated leadership in strengthening democratic governance across Africa by organising a Ministerial High-Level Panel Discussion on Regional Partnerships for Democracy,” Tuggar said.
He explained that the forum enabled constructive engagement on democratic institution-building, inclusive governance, and collaborative regional approaches to sustaining democratic values.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s overall performance, the minister said the country’s engagements and outcomes at the session reaffirmed its commitment to the core principles and objectives of the African Union.
“Nigeria’s engagements and outcomes at the 39th Executive Session of the Executive Council reaffirm the country’s commitment to the ideals and objectives of the African Union, particularly in promoting economic integration, institutional development, peace, security, and democratic governance across the continent,” he said.
Tuggar further emphasised that the Federal Government remains committed to multilateral cooperation within Africa.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria remains dedicated to working collaboratively with Member States and regional bodies to advance Africa’s shared prosperity and sustainable development,” he added.
