Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar has just been sworn-in as Nigeria’s new foreign minister, and Nigerians are keenly eager to see how the veteran diplomat would handle some of the high-stake foreign policy issues as the conflict in Ukraine as well as geopolitical tug of war among emerging powers directly or indirectly threaten Nigerian interests and its national security. While there is high optimism that the new foreign minister, given his unblemished reputation as one of Nigeria’s most high-profile diplomats in Europe, would work to reinforce Nigerian status as the true giant of Africa as the country continues to thread a cautious path when it comes to dealing with international partners but still manages to maintain sovereign decisions in its foreign policy.
But what are the key challenges facing Yusuf Maitama Tuggar? Daily Reviews delves into some of the most urgent foreign policy priorities that the minister has to face head-on. Enjoy:
1. Niger coup and possible military intervention: Following military coup in Niger which overthrew Bazoum Muhammad, ECOWAS immediately slapped crippling economic sanctions on the country and threaten military intervention if the junta did not restore the deposed president. There are positive signs that the junta caves in to pressure and agrees to a dialogue with the region bloc in a bid to avert a regional war which is sure to lead to worsening humanitarian crisis, anger and human casualties.
The fact that the sanctions imposed by the EU, US, and ECOWAS are having serious impacts on the population, it remains to be seen how the new foreign minister would resolve the Niger question and save democracy that has over the years being under assault in West Africa as the region suffered 4 coups in 2 years. It also remains to be seen how Yusuf Maitama Tuggar would use his diplomatic prowess to convince the Junta that Nigeria will no longer tolerate military coups in the region and the country has a lot to lose if it defies ECOWAS and continues to head towards a collision course by continuing to undermine democracy and refused calls for diplomacy.
2. PMC Wagner in the Sahel: While it is hard to discern how Nigeria would stop sovereign countries from hosting foreign troops, the presence of Russian mercenary group in the Sahel is a serious threat to Nigerian national security, and there is a great deal of optimism that the Minister of Foreign Affairs would work to curtail the group’s growing presence in West Africa for two reasons: the stability in the Sahel requires coordinated policy by regional players, and presence of Wager fighters in Mali and Burkina Faso does not bode well for ECOWAS since it is practically impossible for the bloc to work a group that is under international sanctions for human right abuses and causing chaos around the world. If Wagner forces enter Niger, that would cross a major redline for Nigeria, and the Nigerian Foreign Ministry under Yusuf Maitama Tuggar is expected to do whatever it takes to restore democracy in Niger Republic, and stop the country from further descending into chaos, potentially leading to upsurge in terrorist attacks close to our border. Stability in Niger is vital to Nigeria because the country serves as a buffer that shields Nigeria from the chaos in Libya.
3. Strategic partnerships between Nigeria and the West: Nigerian relation with Europe and the United States has been cordial since our country’s return to democracy. Over the past two decades, Nigeria has been able to work with international partners such as the UK, US, Germany, France, Canada in the area of health, humanitarian crises, counterterrorism, war on cybercrimes and drug trafficking and economic cooperation. Even though Nigeria has prosecuted its war against insurgency alone, logistics support and military technical assistance from the likes of the United States, UK, Germany, and other partners are among the key factors that helped Nigeria turn the tide of war against insurgency. President Tinubu aims to deepen relationship with the West and push for deeper economic integration with the West, and by assigning the task to Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, a feisty diplomat who speaks English, French and German fluently, deepening economic ties in the area of energy, technologies, ICT, and economic ties are the major priorities for the new foreign minister.
4. Ukraine: The war in Ukraine has sharply divided the world and created the most intense rivalry and diplomatic crisis between Russia and the West, and the conflict has put Nigeria and other African countries in a difficult position. Shortly after the start of hostility in Ukraine, Nigeria condemned the war and called for a diplomatic solution to the crisis. However, due to our Nigeria’s multi-vector foreign policy prioritizes non-aligned posture in the event of confrontation between superpowers, Nigeria has not imposed any sanction on Russia, and the country still engages with both Ukraine and Russia, and still continues to advocate diplomacy as the best way to end the conflict. As the war in Ukraine grinds on, it remains to be seen how Nigerian Foreign Ministry under Yusuf Maitama Tuggar would continue to stay neutral like the vast majority of African countries or the ministry would be more pro-West in its foreign policy.
5. BRICS and multi-polar world idea: the simmering tension between Russia and NATO members over Ukraine, the tension between China and the West over Taiwan, the emergence of economic powers such as India, Brazil and South Africa has created a condition for other plays to challenge the West’s dominance over the world’s affairs, and more countries are trying to court Nigeria as a strategic partner. However, as a nation of over 200 million people, the strategic importance of Nigeria in Africa cannot be overemphasized, and it requires a career diplomat to ensure Nigerian interests and its citizens are protected all over the world, and to maintain a multi-vector foreign policy in the face of geopolitical shifts and brewing conflicts in Africa and beyond, it remains to be seen how Yusuf Maitama Tuggar would fare.
The stake is high that the new foreign minister would be one of the most nationalistic foreign ministers Nigeria has ever had.
