Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has reaffirmed that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is pursuing strategic autonomy in the country’s international relations, balancing engagements with global powers including the United States and China.
Speaking on Wednesday at the Reuters NEXT Gulf Summit in Abu Dhabi, Tuggar said Nigeria’s foreign policy approach is guided by mutual respect, shared interests, and developmental priorities, not dependency or exploitation.
He criticised how some advanced economies approach their dealings with Africa, likening it to the video game Minecraft, where resources are extracted without meaningful engagement or consideration for long-term development.
“Sometimes it’s like the game Minecraft: There’s oil, there’s gas, there’s critical minerals, rare earths. We put a bit of this, we invest in this. No, that’s not the way it goes,” Tuggar said.
“The engagement should be based on mutual respect, based on shared interests and based on the fact that Africa needs to develop. If it doesn’t develop, we continue to deal with irregular migration and all these other challenges.”
Tuggar noted that recent US tariff increases had not significantly impacted Nigeria’s economy, stressing that the country remains focused on protecting its sovereignty and economic independence.
He further underscored Nigeria’s status as a major African power, citing its population of 230 million people, which is projected to reach 400 million by 2050, and its strong trade ties with China, India, and Brazil.
According to him, Nigeria’s large internal market and growing regional influence make it a key player in shaping Africa’s global partnerships and economic future.
