The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Maitama Tuggar, assured Nigerians on Thursday that his ministry has made significant strides in advancing the nation’s foreign policy, particularly in enhancing the global confidence in the Nigerian passport.
He stated that, as a result of these efforts, no Nigerian will ever face humiliation abroad again.
Speaking at the 2025 Ministerial Press briefing in Abuja, Amb. Tuggar also highlighted the success of Nigeria’s Eurobond, which was oversubscribed by 300%, signaling strong global investor confidence in the country.
The Minister also provided an overview of his ministry’s accomplishments over the past year. These include the facilitation of the repatriation of $52.8 million by the U.S. government to Nigeria, as well as several other diplomatic and economic milestones.
“Robust citizen diplomacy ensuring respect and dignity for Nigerian citizens globally, active diplomatic interventions, advocating improved treatment of Nigerians internationally with every high-level visit and engagement,” Amb. Tuggar said. He also noted significant improvements in Diaspora engagement, including the launch of the Nigerians in Diaspora Database, which now exceeds 11,000 registrations. This database, he explained, strengthens engagement with the diaspora community and aids in policy planning.
In addition to these accomplishments, the Minister revealed several other strategic achievements. These include the signing of an MOU on solid minerals exploration, securing a $2 billion investment for the Nigeria-Siemens Power Project, and formalizing an MOU for renewable energy between Union Bank of Nigeria and Germany’s DWS Group. The ministry also facilitated a $500 million MOU for the export of LNG to Germany.
Amb. Tuggar further disclosed that the ministry had obtained $14 billion in investment commitments from Indian investors across multiple sectors and secured significant bilateral agreements with countries like Kuwait and the Netherlands, including a €250 million investment to bolster existing business in Nigeria.
The Minister also spoke about Russia’s support in providing equipment and training for Nigerian military personnel to enhance national and regional security, as well as a $500 million gas field licensing collaboration with Saudi Arabia.
On the economic front, the ministry’s efforts have resulted in substantial investments, such as $14 billion from Indian investors and €250 million from the Netherlands for Nigerian businesses. The Minister also highlighted the signing of strategic MOUs with countries such as Germany, Saudi Arabia, China, and Equatorial Guinea, which aim to strengthen key sectors like power, oil and gas, agriculture, and infrastructure.
Amb. Tuggar emphasized the growing regional influence of Nigeria, marked by the country’s chairmanship of pivotal ECOWAS summits and the re-election of Ambassador Bankole Adeoye as Nigeria’s AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security. This, he said, reinforced Nigeria’s leadership in continental security. Nigeria also retained its seat on the African Union Peace and Security Council for another three years.
The Minister also reported that the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme, which promotes regional economic integration and free trade among member states, had successfully registered 965 Nigerian companies with 11,160 products under the scheme as of September 30, 2024.
Earlier in the briefing, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to upholding press freedom and creating an environment conducive to media practice in Nigeria.
“This administration believes that a free and responsible press is essential for good governance, transparency, and national development. I want to re-emphasize that President Tinubu, as a foremost democrat, is fully committed to protecting the constitutionally guaranteed rights of all Nigerians, and also encourages constructive criticism and healthy opposition because of their essential role in reinforcing and deepening our democratic framework,” Minister Idris said.