The International Relations and Affairs Alliance IRAA, a coalition of international relations practitioners based in Lagos, Nigeria, has passed a vote of confidence on the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar.
In a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, the IRAA lampooned a faceless group for erroneously pointing accusing fingers at Tuggar over the recalling of ambassadors, saying the group had zero knowledge about diplomatic processes.
The statement signed by the leader of the group, Mrs Adewusi Bakare, said that Ambassadors serve at the prerogative of the President of a Country and not the Minister of Foreign Affairs, explaining that: “Their recall and appointment lie solely with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The group has shown zero knowledge of the process and serving the bidding of their paymasters.”
Regarding the alleged sexual excesses of the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Adamu Lamuwa, IRAA said Tuggar was fast to take appropriate steps to address the case.
“If the faceless group had followed the events, they would have discovered that Amb Tuggar was the first to draw the attention of the Head of Service to the matter and asked that she take charge according to the extant rules of the civil service.
“However, the group has mischievously left that out and is now turning it against the Honorable Minister. In this matter, the minister has acted above board to ensure that due process was followed,” it said.
The statement hailed Tuggar for leading the process of the signing of 25 International MoUs that will, in turn, be highly beneficial to Nigeria across energy, business and investment sectors.
It also commended the Minister for reviving several bi-national commissions, finalising the Basa agreement with the US, and vigorously campaigning for Nigeria in the inclusion of G20, United Nations Security Council and BRICS.
“Most importantly, a 14 billion USD investment from Indian investors across ICT, Power, steel and manufacturing, agriculture and defence, real estate and hospitality.
“Other investments attracted to Nigeria through Tuggar’s economic diplomacy include a 2 billion USD Investment from Germany for the Nigeria-Siemens Power Project and a 250 million Euros investment from the Netherlands to boost existing business in Nigeria,” it added.