Bolu Michael-Biyi warns Nigeria about diplomatic decline

Bolu Michael-Biyi has criticized Nigeria’s foreign policy under the current Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, accusing his leadership of weakening Nigeria diplomatically and making the country more vulnerable on the global stage.

Michael-Biyi in an opinion post titled “The One Thing Destroying Nigeria’s Foreign Policy,” where he highlights the inefficacy and chaos within the foreign ministry, including problems like the absence of ambassadors and global embarrassments diminishing Nigeria’s international reputation.

Michael-Biyi argue that the current foreign policy architecture under Tuggar’s leadership lacks coherence and effectiveness, contributing to Nigeria’s diplomatic weakening and global vulnerability. This disagreement encapsulates rising domestic debate over the direction and execution of Nigeria’s foreign relations

In the piece, Michael-Biyi contends that Nigeria is witnessing “a slow, silent erosion of institutional purpose,” warning that the country’s foreign policy machinery has become ineffective at a time when national reputation and citizen safety depend heavily on diplomacy. He argues that the Tinubu administration has deprioritised external engagement, focusing almost entirely on domestic politics and leaving the foreign ministry directionless.

He identifies one of the most alarming failures as Nigeria’s nearly two-year absence of substantive ambassadors in key global missions. According to him, the lack of ambassadors leaves the country “blind and mute,” unable to gather intelligence, coordinate responses to crises, or engage host governments effectively.

Michael-Biyi also criticised Tuggar’s recent public appearances, including interviews in Germany and on Piers Morgan’s Uncensored, where he said the minister fumbled critical questions about alleged killings of Christians in Nigeria. He noted that Tuggar failed to provide data, relied on references to inaccessible documents, and made statements that were later contested – actions he warns severely damage Nigeria’s credibility internationally.

He further argued that when a foreign minister appears unprepared or evasive on global platforms, the consequences outlast the moment, and reinforces negative perceptions about Nigeria’s governance and weakens the country’s diplomatic leverage.

Calling for urgent action, Michael-Biyi stated that defending national interest requires honesty about governmental shortcomings. He urged President Tinubu to dismiss the foreign minister, insisting that Nigeria “deserves a foreign minister who understands that the job is about strategy, vigilance, and the relentless defence of national interest.”

Michael-Biyi, a former Legal Analyst at the African Union, concluded that Yusuf Tuggar has become “the one thing destroying Nigeria’s foreign policy,” and that replacing him is essential for restoring Nigeria’s global standing.