Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has called for a fundamental shift in Euro-African relations, urging leaders to reject isolationist policies in favor of “good neighborliness” rooted in shared history and geography.
Delivering the keynote address at the 2026 Annual Conference of Spanish Ambassadors in Madrid, Tuggar spoke before an audience of 182 diplomats.
In a statement signed by the Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy, Alkasim Abdulkadir and made available to Channel Network Afrique, CNA , the minister framed the two continents not as separate entities, but as parts of a single geopolitical space where the Mediterranean serves as a historical bridge rather than a barrier.
Historical and Identity Links
Ambassador Tuggar argued that modern diplomacy must acknowledge Africa’s foundational role in global commerce, citing the 14th-century trans-Saharan gold trade and early Atlantic trade. He proposed that Spain recognize Africa as a constitutive part of its historical identity, alongside its European and Ibero-American ties.
Migration and the Sahel Crisis
Addressing the sensitive issue of migration, the Minister cautioned against policies driven by “anti-migrant sentiment.” While reiterating Nigeria’s opposition to irregular migration, he warned that the “securitization” of movement has had destabilizing effects.
Tuggar specifically noted that externally driven policies criminalizing transit migration have dismantled local economies in the Sahel, inadvertently empowering human traffickers and contributing to regional political breakdowns. In contrast, he praised Spain’s circular migration models—which facilitate legal, seasonal work—as a pragmatic and humane framework that mirrors traditional West African labor patterns.
Economic and Democratic Stability
The Minister linked Africa’s economic marginalization directly to global security. He argued that the current model of exporting raw materials while importing manufactured goods fuels economic pressure and migration.
”Development finance and value-addition are not acts of charity but investments in shared stability,” Tuggar stated.
On the subject of regional governance, Tuggar highlighted Nigeria’s leadership in the Regional Partnership for Democracy, an initiative launched with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). He emphasized that for democracy to endure in West Africa, it must reflect local histories and cultural contexts rather than being strictly imported.
A Call for Diplomatic Courage
Closing his address, Tuggar lamented the “shrinking space for diplomacy” amid global polarization. He urged the Spanish diplomatic corps to act as advocates for dialogue and compromise, resisting simplistic security narratives in favor of long-term strategic cooperation.
The conference underscored the growing bilateral ties between Nigeria and Spain, particularly in the areas of police training, migration management, and the shared fight against human trafficking.
