Abuja: Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has emphasized the need for strategic economic diplomacy, stronger regional integration, and evidence-based policy intelligence as key drivers of Nigeria’s transformation agenda. He commended the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and the NESG for maintaining a tradition of collaboration that continues to shape the nation’s economic policy landscape.
According to Voice of Nigeria, Ambassador Tuggar highlighted this year’s theme: ‘The Reform Imperative: Building a Prosperous and Inclusive Nigeria by 2030,’ describing it as timely and visionary. He noted that Nigeria is at a transformative juncture where reforms are indispensable for restoring macroeconomic stability and rebuilding investor confidence. Under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the administration is implementing bold, pragmatic, and people-centered reforms that are already yielding tangible results.
Tuggar affirmed that these reforms are catalyzing growth, enhancing investor confidence, and reigniting the productive capacity of the nation. He stressed that Nigeria’s foreign policy must align with its economic objectives, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs actively unlocking trade corridors, securing partnerships, and attracting investments to strengthen the domestic economy.
The Minister outlined the Ministry’s commitment to advancing economic diplomacy through Nigeria’s 4D Foreign Policy Doctrine-Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora. He emphasized that under President Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria’s foreign policy is defined by strategic autonomy, pursuing partnerships of purpose rather than alliances of obligation.
Ambassador Tuggar also underscored the importance of deepening regional cooperation, citing the newly launched West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) as a key initiative aimed at driving cross-border industrialization, trade, and infrastructure development. He declared that Nigeria’s prosperity is tied to West Africa’s progress, advocating for investment in regional value chains and policy harmonization.
Drawing parallels with successful global models, Tuggar referenced lessons from emerging economies like MIKTA-Mexico, Indonesia, Korea, Turkey, and Australia-and the East Asian ‘Flying Geese’ paradigm. He stated that with Nigeria’s demographic weight, market size, and strategic geography, the country has the scale and capacity to lead Africa’s own ‘flying geese’ formation.
Ambassador Tuggar called for stronger collaboration between Nigeria’s policy and research institutions, stressing the need for an evidence-based strategy to guide both domestic reforms and international engagement. He highlighted the role of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and other government think tanks in translating research into actionable foreign policy.
Reaffirming the Foreign Ministry’s commitment to a results-driven foreign policy, Tuggar stated that Nigeria’s diplomacy must always serve the people and priorities of the nation. He emphasized that whether through advancing trade under AfCFTA, facilitating investment flows, supporting climate finance, or championing Africa’s voice in global fora, the country’s diplomacy must deliver concrete benefits to Nigerians.
He concluded by asserting that the challenge is to turn dialogue into delivery, and if Nigeria aligns its ambition with implementation, the country will not only reform but lead-regionally, globally, and in the hearts of its people.