By Bolu Michael-Biyi
A Ministry Adrift
Nigeria’s foreign policy is not collapsing in dramatic headlines. It’s eroding quietly, dangerously, under the leadership of Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar. While President Bola Ahmed Tinubu focuses on domestic politics and positioning for 2027, the nation’s global posture suffers. In a world where perception equals influence, neglect is not neutral it’s harmful.
Two Years Without Eyes or Ears Abroad
Here’s the reality: Nigeria has gone nearly two years without substantive ambassadors in key missions worldwide. Ambassadors are not ceremonial they are the eyes, ears, and first line of defense for Nigerian interests abroad. Trade, diplomacy, citizen protection, and crisis response all hinge on them. Without them, the Foreign Ministry is blind, mute, and dangerously ineffective.
The U.S. Warning: A Case Study in Failure
Recently, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened military action if Nigeria did not protect Christians under attack in the north. Without an ambassador in Washington, the government could do little beyond posting statements online a far cry from the engagement expected of a sovereign nation. This is what happens when leadership in foreign affairs is absent.
Global Embarrassment: Germany and Piers Morgan
Tuggar’s failures are not limited to absent ambassadors. In Germany, when asked about allegations of genocide in Nigeria, he referred journalists to a document that isn’t publicly accessible a missed opportunity to defend the country’s image.
On Piers Morgan’s Uncensored, Tuggar failed again, providing unverifiable statistics and making statements described as misleading by former Canadian MP Goldie Ghamari: “I can tell when someone is lying and avoiding the truth, and that’s exactly what this foreign minister is doing.”
These aren’t small mistakes they are strategic blunders that damage Nigeria’s credibility, hinder foreign investment, and endanger citizens abroad.
Why This Matters
A competent foreign minister understands that the role is about strategy, vigilance, and protecting national interest. It’s not about speeches or attending conferences it’s about ensuring Nigeria’s voice is respected and its citizens safe. Tuggar has shown he cannot do this.
Time for Accountability
Critics may argue for patience or loyalty, but what truly weakens Nigeria is keeping a minister who presides over silence, inaction, and miscommunication. President Tinubu has demonstrated the ability to make tough decisions elsewhere; removing Tuggar should be straightforward.
Nigeria deserves a foreign minister who acts, protects, and represents the nation with competence and urgency. Tuggar’s tenure has proven he is the one thing destroying Nigeria’s foreign policy today.
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