Monday, September 15, 2025 - Nigerian Embassies functioning well without Ambassadors
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has declared that Nigeria will
not be pressured into aligning with global powers or taking sides in
international rivalries, stressing that the country must pursue an independent
foreign policy.
In a statement signed by the Ministry’s spokesperson,
Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, on Sunday, Tuggar made this position clear while
delivering a guest lecture at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs
(NIIA), Lagos, on Friday.
He explained that Nigeria’s foreign policy in the 21st
century must be anchored on strategic autonomy, guided by four pillars:
democracy, demography, development, and diaspora.
The Minister warned against repeating the mistakes of the
past, recalling how economic “bandwagoning” led to the adoption of the
Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP).
“Our idea is to avoid the booby trap of entangling alliances
or ideological over-alignment, but rather to focus on issue-based relationships
and partnerships of purpose,” Tuggar said.
He added that Nigeria’s population, internal market, and
size provide it with unique advantages in navigating a changing global order.
He also said Nigeria’s embassies across the world are
discharging their duties effectively despite the absence of substantive
ambassadors, dismissing concerns that diplomatic missions were paralysed,
adding that existing structures ensure continuity even without appointed
envoys.
“All our embassies are functioning well. The chargé
d’affaires in each mission is carrying out responsibilities effectively. The
absence of ambassadors has not created a vacuum”, he said.
He explained that an ambassador is the head of mission, but
the diplomatic chain of command includes deputies, counsellors and career
officers who handle daily operations.
“Diplomacy is not a one-man show. The system is designed to
cope with such situations,” he stated.
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