NES: Foreign Affairs Minister Calls for Strategic Economic Diplomacy, Regional Integration, and Policy Intelligence
Abuja (Core Reporters) Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has praised the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) as one of the country’s most enduring institutions of policy innovation and democratic dialogue, describing it as “a cornerstone of Nigeria’s development architecture and a vital pillar of governance and reform.”
Speaking at the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit (NES #31) in Abuja, Ambassador Tuggar commended the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and the NESG for sustaining a legacy of constructive public-private dialogue that has shaped Nigeria’s economic trajectory for more than three decades.
“Over the past thirty years, the Summit has evolved from an annual event into an institution of renewal—an arena where ideas meet action and where the public and private sectors chart a shared future for Nigeria,” Tuggar stated.
The Minister described this year’s theme, “The Reform Imperative: Building a Prosperous and Inclusive Nigeria by 2030,” as timely and visionary. He said Nigeria has entered a transformative period where reform is not merely desirable but indispensable for restoring macroeconomic stability and rebuilding investor confidence.
According to him, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is steering a wave of bold, pragmatic, and people-centered reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda—reforms that are not only improving fiscal and monetary stability but are beginning to touch the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
“These reforms are catalysing growth, enhancing investor confidence, and reigniting the productive capacity of this great nation,” Tuggar affirmed. “Most importantly, they are beginning to deliver results that are visible not just in data, but in the lived experiences of our citizens.”
Ambassador Tuggar emphasized that Nigeria’s foreign policy must serve its economic ambitions. He reaffirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is actively unlocking trade corridors, securing partnerships, and attracting investment to strengthen the domestic economy.
He outlined the Ministry’s commitment to economic diplomacy, guided by Nigeria’s 4D Foreign Policy Doctrine—Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora.
“Under President Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria’s foreign policy is defined by strategic autonomy,” Tuggar said. “We pursue partnerships of purpose, not alliances of obligation. Nigeria must reject binary ideological alignments and instead embrace issue-based relationships that advance national interest. We are too significant a nation to engage in bandwagon diplomacy.”
The Minister underscored the importance of deepening regional cooperation and cited the recently launched West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) as a major step in advancing cross-border industrialization, trade, and infrastructure development.
“Nigeria’s prosperity is tied to West Africa’s progress,” he declared. “The more we invest in regional value chains and policy harmonization, the more resilient and competitive we become as a bloc.”
Tuggar noted that Nigeria’s quest for inclusive growth must align with global models of success. He pointed to lessons from emerging middle-power economies such as MIKTA—Mexico, Indonesia, Korea, Turkiye, and Australia—and the Flying Geese Paradigm of East Asia, where countries industrialized in staggered formation.
“With our demographic weight, market size, and strategic geography, Nigeria has the scale and capacity to lead Africa’s own ‘flying geese’ formation,” he said. “But leadership must be earned—through sound policies, productive investment, regional coordination, and institutional credibility.”
Ambassador Tuggar also called for stronger collaboration between Nigeria’s policy and research institutions, stressing that evidence-based strategy must 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.
“We must invest in policy intelligence,” he urged. “That means building a pipeline of ideas, innovation, and informed foresight through collaboration between government, academia, civil society, and research institutions. Geopolitics today is the realm of weaponized interdependence—we must be smarter, faster, and more strategic.”
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.
“Whether through advancing trade under AfCFTA, facilitating investment flows, supporting climate finance, or championing Africa’s voice in global fora, our diplomacy must deliver concrete benefits to Nigerians,” he said.
In closing, the Minister expressed optimism that the deliberations at NES #31 would go beyond rhetoric to yield actionable reforms and shared responsibility among stakeholders.
“Our challenge is to turn dialogue into delivery,” he said. “If we align our ambition with implementation, Nigeria will not only reform but lead—regionally, globally, and in the hearts of our people.”
