Foreign Affairs Minister Resigns to Pursue Bauchi Governorship Race

Foreign Affairs Minister Resigns to Pursue Bauchi Governorship Race

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has resigned from office to pursue his governorship ambition in Bauchi State ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The development was confirmed on Monday by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, who put to rest earlier speculation surrounding the minister’s status.

Tuggar’s resignation follows a directive by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, mandating all political appointees with electoral ambitions to step down on or before March 31, 2026.

The order, issued through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, is expected to trigger a series of exits from the Federal Executive Council.

Appointed in August 2023, Tuggar succeeded Geoffrey Onyeama, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari. His appointment was widely viewed as part of efforts by the current administration to recalibrate Nigeria’s foreign policy using the “4Ds” framework—Democracy, Development, Diaspora and Demography.

However, his time in office was dogged by persistent funding challenges that affected the operations of Nigeria’s diplomatic missions abroad.

Tuggar had, on several occasions, raised concerns over inadequate budgetary allocations, warning that embassies were struggling to meet basic obligations, including staff salaries and facility maintenance.

The financial strain reportedly led to deteriorating conditions in some foreign missions, with mounting debts and infrastructure deficits drawing criticism from stakeholders who warned of potential damage to Nigeria’s international image.

Despite the constraints, the outgoing minister maintained that efforts were ongoing to stabilise the system while advancing the country’s foreign policy priorities. He also pushed initiatives aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and attracting foreign investment, though observers noted that progress remained uneven.

Before joining the cabinet, Tuggar represented the Gamawa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011. He later served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany between 2017 and 2023.

His resignation comes as political activities begin to gather momentum ahead of the 2027 elections, with indications that he will contest the Bauchi State governorship.

With his exit, attention is now expected to turn to the presidency for the appointment of a replacement, amid concerns about continuity in Nigeria’s foreign policy at a time of shifting global dynamics.