NIGERIA: Foreign Affairs Minister, Amb . Yusuf Tugga Tours Togo, G. Bissau And Gambia, Cote D’ivoire.

By Helen Udo,Outlook Media ABUJA.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tugga praised some African countries he visited recently for their support to Nigeria in its efforts to get a permanent seat at the UN Security Council and also for Nigeria’s nominee for a position in international Court of Justice.

The Minister said that such Regional Collaboration is crucial to the Country’s international aspirations.

Ambassador Tunga who said scountry that he toured Togo, Guinea Bissau, Gambia, and Côte d’Ivoire, said his engagements in the region were not limited to discussions on the UN Security Council bid or to Nigeria’s nominee to the international Court of Justice, But also on several investment opportunities which exist in these African countries.

Tunga revealed this to newsmen during a press briefing on Tuesday in Abuja.

Speaking about the countries visited during the ECOWAS Diplomacy Shuttle, he disclosed that officials in each country of the Ecowas Community of West African States, ECOWAS, acknowledged Nigeria’s unique qualifications to represent the African continent at the global level.

“Nigeria has assured Guinea Bisau of its support to help keep the country stable, as Nigeria is always there to provide its mediation platform to resolve any issue.

“As a matter of facts, there are Nigerian Troops in Guinea Bisau, they have been there for quite some times now, helping to keep the country stable and we emphasized the need for harmony, for work towards more stability.

He stated that at the moment, there are investment opportunities that exist from fishery to agricultural produce with Guinea Bisau, as he assured of Nigeria’s interest in investing in fibre optics.

“At the moment there is a bit of challenge in the parliament but we assured them that Nigeria is always there to provide its mediatory platform to resolve any issue and President Tinubu of course is always available also to help.

On Gambia, he said, Nigeria has a long relationship with Gambia. Which if not for the role played by Nigeria, Gambia would not have had a functioning judiciary right now,”

“The Vice President and the Foreign Minister both stated the importance of Nigeria to Gambia and reminded us that were it not for the role that Nigeria played, Gambia will today not have a judiciary and we’ll continue to support them through this Ministry and its agency, the Technical Aid Corp.

“We will also provide Nigerian professionals , particularly university lecturers that will continue to help their education system.

“So, Nigeria is very important to Gambia and by extension we also talked about several issues with regards to how to strengthen economic harmony and integration.

He revealed that Togo is rich in mineral resources, particularly phosphate,

“We talked about opportunities in fertilizer blending plants in Nigeria and how we can collaborate on this front.”

On his visit to Cote d’ivoire, Ambassador Tunga stated that Nigeria is very keen on partnering with Cote D’Ivoire and the production of cashew as number one in the production of cashew in the world.

Tunga said Côte d’Ivoire is number one in the production of cashew and are ready to share their experience and technology, with Nigeria.

He disclosed that Cote D’Ivoire are ready to share their experience, their technology, and their expertise to improve Nigeria’s own output as well.

“Cote D’Ivoire is a large economy within the francophone countries and within ECOWAS and one of the key arteries for the economic success and advancement of ECOWAS is the Abidjan-Lagos trade and transport corridor and this exist not only terrestrially on land but also along the coast because there is a lot of trade and movements between that axis and you know between Cote D’Ivoire and Nigeria, we’ have Ghana, Togo, and Republic of Benin.

Apart from investment, Agricultural and technological advancement discussions, in these countries visited, Tunga expressed satisfaction about the tour, saying, “Everywhere we went, we had the opportunity to discuss and solicit support for Nigeria’s intention to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council because this is something that is hot topic at the moment.

“All the countries we visited said they know there is no other country that is best suited, best qualified to speak on behalf of the continent more than Nigeria.

“Nigeria is one of the few countries with this its size that has never threatened its neighbors.

“We are the ones that had gone to look out for others, not just in our neighborhood but on the continent.

“Nigeria stood firm and was a leader in the fight against racist regime in our continent

“Our region have always been supportive because they know that when it comes to representing other’s interest Nigeria is selfless.

Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, stated that United States recent endorsement of Africa’s right to permanent seats on the UNSC is very significant

“The United Nations Security Council remains important because 68 percent of decisions made in the United Nations Security Council have to do with Africa, yet there is not a single Africa country with a permanent seat there

According to him, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration is ready to push hard for our seat, and we are getting the right response from our international partners,”

“So, it’s important that Nigeria is in there, it’s important that Nigeria represents and speaks for not just ourselves, not just our region, not just the continent but for the world.