Nigeria prioritises economic growth in foreign policy – Minister

A file photo of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar

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The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to a pragmatic, interest-driven foreign policy anchored on economic growth, job creation, and strategic global partnerships.

Tuggar made the statement on Sunday through Alkasim Abdulkadir, his Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy.

Abdulkadir quoted Tuggar during a high-level panel entitled “BRICS, GCC and Evolving Relations for a Changing Global Order” at the Doha Forum 2025.

“Nigeria remains committed to building partnerships based on mutual respect, shared interests, and tangible economic outcomes that directly benefit its people,” Tuggar said.

He explained that Nigeria’s foreign policy under President Bola Tinubu is shaped by the country’s demographic realities and development priorities.

According to him, with a population of no fewer than 230 million people, mostly young, Nigeria must urgently expand employment opportunities, grow its middle class, and attract sustained investment.

Tuggar reiterated that Nigeria’s engagement with platforms such as BRICS and the G20 is not driven by ideological alignment with any bloc, but by national interest.

“Nigeria is deliberately avoiding rigid East–West divisions and instead pursuing balanced relationships with all partners in a rapidly changing multipolar world,” he said.

He cautioned against importing external geopolitical rivalries into Africa, stressing the need to safeguard regional stability and prevent proxy competition that could undermine peace and development.

He added that Nigeria’s participation in global bodies reflects its long-standing tradition of independent diplomacy and multilateral engagement, rooted in its historic role in Africa’s liberation struggles and global development cooperation.

(NAN)

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