Mirian Gom 
Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar speaks at Reuters NEXT Summit
Oluwatobi Adu
ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, has urged rich nations to redefine trade relations with Africa, warning against treating the continent merely as a source of raw materials.
Speaking at the Reuters NEXT Gulf Summit in Abu Dhabi, Tuggar criticised what he described as a “Minecraft approach” to trade, where partners focus solely on extracting Africa’s oil, gas, and minerals.
“Sometimes it’s like the game Minecraft — investors come, take resources, and leave. That’s not the way it goes,” he said. “Engagement must be based on mutual respect, shared interests, and the fact that Africa needs to develop.”
Tuggar stressed that Africa’s development was crucial to curbing irregular migration and other transnational challenges.
He also said Nigeria was resilient against U.S. tariffs under President Donald Trump’s policy, citing its 230 million population and diverse trade partnerships with China, India, and Brazil.
“Four in ten Nigerians still lack access to electricity,” he said, referencing World Bank data. “Investors must see Nigeria’s vast internal market as an opportunity for sustainable industrial growth.”
Addressing recent online claims of Christian persecution, Tuggar dismissed them as distortions. “One of our challenges is false narratives about Nigeria. Investors should come and see the reality for themselves,” he added.
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Oluwatobi Adu 
Oluwafunbi Bello 
Korede Abdullah 