Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has assured that the Federal Government will soon appoint the much-awaited substantive ambassadors and high commissioners to fill Nigeria’s foreign missions, which have gone for over one year without the top officials.
Tuggar gave this assurance in Abuja on Thursday during the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing Series, where he presented Nigeria’s scorecard and its positive exploits in global diplomacy that has strengthened the country’s stature in diverse areas.
He said that names of the nominated senior envoys will be sent to the Senate soon for confirmation, which indicated that President Bola Tinubu was vetting the officials thoroughly to select the best to represent Nigeria in this complex and trying time.
The Minister, however, noted that the Nigerian foreign missions have remained functional irrespective of the fact that substantive heads of missions have not resumed duties over one year after they were recalled by the President, fuelling concerns that the country risks losing greater stakes in the global arena.
Tuggar, who titled his presentation “From Passive to Active Global Engagement under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Leadership”, also stressed that Nigeria vigorously pursued a robust “Citizen Diplomacy” which has ensured respect and dignity for Nigerian citizens globally as well as boosting confidence in the Nigerian passport.
He added that this ‘citizen diplomacy’ also entails active interventions and advocating improved treatment of Nigerians internationally with every high-level visits and engagements based on the 4Ds Foreign Policy objectives of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The 4Ds (Diplomacy, Development, Democracy and Diaspora) opened diverse means of cooperation and collaboration with other countries to bring investment to Nigeria and boost its economy.
On Nigeria’s Economic Diplomacy, the Minister reeled out commitments from Indian investors who facilitated $14 billion across multiple sectors, as well as from the Netherlands, which secured €250 million for Nigerian businesses.
He said “Nigeria’s Eurobond success achieved 300% oversubscription, which indicates strong global investor confidence; strategic MOUs signed Germany, Saudi Arabia, China, and Equatorial Guinea, France, Cuba, Qatar, UK, India, Brazil thereby strengthening key sectors like power, oil & gas, agriculture, and infrastructure.”
Tuggar also said that Nigeria’s diplomatic engagements have led to breaking barriers for Nigerian businesses and removal of trade barriers thereby eliminating tariffs on Nigerian cashews and nuts by China.
Nigeria, according to Tuggar, has also utilized the Joint Business Council (JBC) with Qatar to enhance agricultural trade and entered into landmark agreements for the Gulf of Guinea gas pipeline with Equatorial Guinea.
Nigeria has also strengthened regional influence as President Tinubu’s tenure as the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of States and Governments of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has addressed regional security and political stability.
The re-election of Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, Nigerian diplomat as African Union (AU) Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, further reinforced Nigeria’s leadership in continental security, among others, Tuggar affirmed.
