Nigeria Secures Permanent Seat On African Central Bank Board At AU Summit, Records Major Diplomatic Wins

Nigeria has secured a permanent seat on the Board of the African Central Bank following resolutions reached at the 39th Session of the Executive Council of the African Union, marking a significant milestone in the country’s diplomatic and economic engagements on the continent.
The development, announced in a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, underscores Nigeria’s expanding influence in shaping Africa’s financial architecture and advancing the continent’s monetary integration agenda.
With the decision, Nigeria will also be represented on the Board of the Technical Convergence Committee of the African Monetary Institute, a precursor body to the establishment of the African Central Bank. The move is widely regarded as a recognition of Nigeria’s technical expertise, economic weight, and longstanding commitment to regional financial stability.
Beyond monetary integration, Nigeria also recorded gains in the area of peace and security. At the session, candidates jointly endorsed by the Economic Community of West African States were successfully elected to the Peace and Security Council of the African Union. The outcome reflected strong regional cohesion among ECOWAS member states and their collective resolve to promote stability and security across Africa.
In further demonstration of leadership, Nigeria organised a Ministerial High-Level Panel Discussion on Regional Partnerships for Democracy on the sidelines of the summit. The event drew ministers, senior government officials, and delegates from across Africa and the international community. Discussions centred on strengthening democratic institutions, promoting inclusive governance, and enhancing regional cooperation to safeguard democratic values.
The Federal Government stated that Nigeria’s engagements and outcomes at the Executive Council session reaffirm its commitment to the ideals of the African Union — particularly economic integration, institutional development, peace, security, and democratic governance.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, who signed the statement dated February 13, 2026, reiterated Nigeria’s resolve to continue working collaboratively with member states and regional bodies to advance Africa’s shared prosperity and sustainable development.