By Joy Odor Abuja
In a powerful diplomatic pitch, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has called on the United States to recalibrate its Africa strategy by strengthening direct partnerships with “anchor states” starting with Nigeria.
Speaking at a high-level investment roundtable organized by the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) on the margins of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Tuggar made it clear: Nigeria isn’t just open for business, it’s indispensable to global business.
“The United States must return to working with anchor states in Africa and there is no better anchor than Nigeria,” Tuggar declared, addressing a room filled with U.S. corporate heavyweights and policy influencers.
Flanked by Vice President Kashim Shettima and top executives from leading U.S. firms, Tuggar spotlighted Nigeria’s unmatched value proposition:
A massive population fueling consumer and labor markets
Rich natural resources
Continental leadership in trade, innovation, and diplomacy
“Partnership with Nigeria lowers entry costs, unlocks access to Africa’s deepest talent pool, and brings millions of informal businesses into the global economy,” Tuggar said.
The Minister reinforced President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda, framing it as a bold economic blueprint built on reforms, openness, and opportunity.
He emphasized Nigeria’s efforts to reshape its investment climate, promote rule-based governance, and use diplomacy as a tool for trade.
“We’re not asking for aid, we’re offering access. Nigeria is positioned as Africa’s investment hub, and the time to engage is now,” Tuggar added.
With geopolitical tensions rising globally, Tuggar’s remarks served as a timely warning to U.S. stakeholders: ignore Africa’s anchor states at your own peril.
“This is a moment for strategic alignment, not charity. A deeper U.S-Nigeria partnership is not just good economics, it’s smart geopolitics,” he said.
Tuggar’s remarks reflect a broader diplomatic offensive by Nigeria to reassert itself as the continent’s political and economic heartbeat.
For Washington, the message is clear: partnering with Africa’s most capable states is no longer optional, it’s strategic survival.
