The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to a pragmatic, interest-driven foreign policy anchored on economic growth, job creation, and strategic global partnerships.
He made the assertion while speaking on a high-level panel titled “BRICS, GCC and Evolving Relations for a Changing Global Order” at the Doha Forum 2025.
Ambassador Tuggar explained that Nigeria’s foreign policy under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is shaped by the country’s demographic realities and development priorities, noting that with a population of over 230 million largely youthful, Nigeria must urgently expand employment opportunities, grow its middle class, and attract sustained investment.
He emphasised 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. According to him, Nigeria is deliberately avoiding rigid East–West divisions and instead pursuing balanced relationships with all partners in a rapidly changing multipolar world.
The Foreign Minister also cautioned against the importation of external geopolitical rivalries into Africa, stressing the need to safeguard regional stability and prevent proxy competition that could undermine peace and development in the sub-region.
He added that Nigeria’s participation in multiple global groupings 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.
Ambassador Tuggar concluded that Nigeria remains committed to building partnerships based on mutual respect, shared interests, and tangible economic outcomes that directly benefit its people.