Africa’s Weak Trade Position Poses Global Risk, Says Tuggar

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has warned that Africa’s marginal participation in global trade is not only incompatible with the continent’s population size but also poses long-term risks to global stability.

Tuggar spoke on Wednesday at the 2026 Annual Conference of Ambassadors held in Spain, which was convened under the theme “Good Neighbourliness: Building Bridges or Building Walls.”

He lamented Africa’s continued role as a supplier of raw materials while depending largely on imported manufactured goods, noting that the imbalance perpetuates underdevelopment and intensifies economic pressure across the continent.

In a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Assistant on Media, Alkasim Abdulkadir, the minister said the consequences of Africa’s economic marginalisation extend beyond the continent, warning that such disparities often spill across borders and fuel instability that affects Europe and other regions.

Tuggar described Africa and Europe as parts of a shared geopolitical space, bound together by geography, history and economic interdependence. He stressed that the future of both regions remains closely linked.

He urged European nations to prioritise partnerships that promote industrialisation, value-chain development and fairer access to global markets for African economies, adding that sustainable growth in Africa would deliver mutual benefits.

The minister also cautioned against migration policies driven by fear, warning that the securitisation of labour mobility and the weaponisation of anti-migrant sentiments have produced destabilising effects, particularly in the Sahel region.

While reaffirming Nigeria’s opposition to irregular migration, Tuggar highlighted ongoing Nigeria–Spain cooperation in areas such as migration management, police training, and the fight against human trafficking and smuggling, describing them as positive examples of collaborative engagement.