The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, on Tuesday reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to using economic diplomacy as a tool to drive Nigeria’s private sector-led transformation and unlock national prosperity.
Speaking at the inaugural Economic Diplomacy Dialogue hosted by the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) in Abuja, Tuggar called on the diplomatic community to support Nigeria’s economic goals through direct engagement in trade, investment, and industrial partnerships.
“This dialogue is critical to what the Tinubu administration is trying to achieve promoting trade, strengthening value chains, and creating jobs,” Tuggar said.
He highlighted the government’s “strategic opportunity” model a shift from ideological alignments to pragmatic, economy-focused partnerships.
“With our population size, we aim to convert our demographics into an employment engine,” he added.
Tuggar also referenced ongoing government initiatives such as:
· Special Economic Zones
· Regional Development Authorities
· Energy transition investments in refining, renewables, and climate-resilient manufacturing
He urged NACCIMA and the diplomatic corps to move beyond formal agreements and pursue direct, measurable partnerships that benefit both Nigeria and its global allies.
Also speaking, Ambassador Salaheddine Ibrahima, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps represented by Ambassador Houssam Diab of Lebanon praised Nigeria’s reform trajectory and announced Lebanon’s plans to establish a Bilateral Business Council with Nigeria.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, represented by Special Adviser Patience Okala, commended NACCIMA’s leadership in regional trade policy, including its role in the five-year review of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
She announced:
· A new air cargo route linking Nigeria to 13 Eastern and Southern African countries
· The launch of Nigeria’s first National Export Trading Company in collaboration with Afreximbank
In his keynote, NACCIMA President, Dr. Jani Ibrahim, described the event as “a new dawn in strategic partnership”, aligning with the Federal Government’s 8-Point Agenda and the “Nigeria First” principle.
Dr. Ibrahim proposed:
· A Private Sector–Diplomatic Dialogue Framework
· Joint working groups on trade and digital economy
· Impact tracking systems to measure policy results
He announced that NACCIMA will host an Investment Summit on December 2–3, 2025, aimed at attracting capital into Nigeria’s key growth sectors.
The dialogue marked a significant step in aligning diplomacy with enterprise, as Nigeria advances toward its vision of a $1 trillion economy.
