Nigeria is making significant strides in reshaping its global image, attracting foreign investments, and ensuring the welfare of its citizens abroad, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has said.

Speaking at a ministerial briefing in Abuja, Tuggar outlined key diplomatic achievements under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, emphasizing the country’s renewed international standing and economic diplomacy.

“We have worked to restore Nigeria’s respect on the global stage,” Tuggar stated, highlighting strengthened diplomatic relations and a reinforced commitment to protecting Nigerians overseas. He reiterated the government’s zero-tolerance policy on the mistreatment of its citizens, citing successful interventions in securing the release of unjustly detained Nigerians abroad.

On the economic front, Nigeria has secured multi-billion-dollar investments, including a $14 billion commitment from India, an $8 billion expansion deal with Indorama, and a $3.5 billion steel plant investment in Akwa Ibom. The minister stressed the importance of moving away from raw material exports, advocating instead for value-added production in agriculture, textiles, and synthetic materials.

Addressing foreign policy, Tuggar reaffirmed Nigeria’s balanced diplomatic approach, revealing the country’s involvement in humanitarian efforts in Gaza while also backing Ukraine at the United Nations. He noted Nigeria’s role in evacuating infants from Gaza to safer locations for medical treatment.

In regional diplomacy, Nigeria recently secured key positions at the African Union without financial lobbying—an achievement the minister described as a testament to the country’s growing influence. He also announced that Abuja will host the headquarters of the African Central Bank, a move expected to benefit Nigerian startups and fintech firms.

Further successes include securing scholarships for Nigerian students in Germany, negotiating the repatriation of stolen funds from the U.S., and strengthening ties with Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and China in critical sectors such as food security, renewable energy, and trade.

Tuggar reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to advancing Nigeria’s global influence while leveraging diplomatic engagements to drive national development.