Nigeria won’t be forced to follow world powers – Tuggar

…warns against ‘booby trap of alliances’

By Favour Ulebor, Abuja

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has declared that Nigeria volition not beryllium pressured into aligning with planetary powers oregon taking sides successful planetary rivalries, stressing that the state indispensable prosecute an autarkic overseas policy.

In a connection signed by the Ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, connected Sunday, Tuggar made this presumption wide portion delivering a impermanent lecture astatine the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos, connected Friday.

He explained that Nigeria’s overseas argumentation successful the 21st period indispensable beryllium anchored connected strategical autonomy, guided by 4 pillars: democracy, demography, development, and diaspora.

The Minister warned against repeating the mistakes of the past, recalling however economical “bandwagoning” led to the adoption of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP).

“Our thought is to debar the booby trap of entangling alliances oregon ideological over-alignment, but alternatively to absorption connected issue-based relationships and partnerships of purpose,” Tuggar said.

He added that Nigeria’s population, interior market, and size supply it with unsocial advantages successful navigating a changing planetary order.

“There was a clip successful the not-so-distant past erstwhile Nigeria faced akin pressures nether a bipolar strategy and was capable to navigate its mode through, with overmuch assistance from the intelligence firepower of the NIIA. Recognition of the MPLA, the World Conference for Action Against Apartheid, and the Ogaden War travel to mind. The aforesaid rule should usher today’s policies,” helium said.

Tuggar besides emphasized Africa’s value successful Nigeria’s overseas policy, noting that integration and corporate information stay apical priorities.

On democracy, helium stressed that Africa indispensable physique models rooted successful its ain civilization and history, alternatively than copying overseas systems. He revealed that the Ministry, with enactment from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), had developed a Regional Partnership for Democracy (RPD) to fortify antiauthoritarian institutions and beforehand dialogue.

“Africa remains a priority, and the prospects of integration to execute economical improvement are overmuch higher present that we person the AfCFTA. Cooperative defence, whether done the MNJTF, ECOWAS, oregon the AU, besides remains a priority,” the Minister added.

He further explained: “No 1 holds a patent connected ideology and its practice. It is clip Africa took ownership of ideology to suit its ain history, cultures, traditions, and mores. True ideology allows for differences, disagreements, and dialogue, portion keeping relationships intact and learning adjacent from opposing views.”

The station Nigeria won’t beryllium forced to travel satellite powers – Tuggar appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.