Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has resigned from his position, bringing his tenure at the helm of the country’s diplomatic affairs to an end.
In his resignation letter, Tuggar expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the opportunity to serve and contribute to the administration’s 4D foreign policy strategy, which has guided Nigeria’s diplomatic engagements.
He also appreciated the management and staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, alongside members of the diplomatic community, for their cooperation and support throughout his time in office.
During his tenure, Tuggar was credited with advancing Nigeria’s foreign policy through people-centred diplomacy, including humanitarian evacuations, scholarship facilitation, and sustained support for Nigerians in the diaspora. His administration also strengthened diaspora engagement through the development of a structured Nigerians-in-Diaspora database aimed at boosting national participation.
The former minister further deepened Nigeria’s bilateral and multilateral relations through strategic engagements with traditional allies and emerging partners, particularly within the Global South. His tenure also saw efforts to enhance regional security cooperation, including the formation of the Regional Partnership for Democracy (RPD).
In the area of economic diplomacy, Tuggar played a role in positioning Nigeria as an attractive destination for foreign investment, especially in the energy sector, while also facilitating diplomatic interventions that secured the release of detained Nigerians abroad.
Findings indicate that the minister submitted his resignation letter to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) ahead of the March 31 deadline set for political office holders, in line with directives tied to the electoral process.
The letter was received on behalf of the SGF’s office by Dr. Abubakar Kana, Permanent Secretary, General Services Office.
The development was confirmed in a statement signed by Alkasim Abdulkadir, Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy to the minister.
