The Nigerian government has said it will get along with rival economic powerhouses such as the United States, China and Russia as they all seek to cut their slices of cake from a $473 billion economy.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, told MSNBC in an interview during his working visit to the US after the US-Africa Business Summit and the U.S.-Nigeria Binational Commission meetings held in both countries recently.
Tuggar uploaded the video of the interview via his X page on Monday night.
He was asked to comment on the military and economic contests of the US, China, and Russia on the African continent.
The question came amid the Federal Government’s rebuttal of plans to allow any foreign military base in Nigeria.
The minister maintained on Monday that Nigeria’s position on the three countries will remain strategic.
He acknowledged the economic rivalry between the three countries but added that Nigeria will not align with one of them against others.
What he said,
Giving further insight into his recent trip to the U.S., Tuggar said Nigeria needs to partner with America to further strengthen its foreign policy agenda.
He added that he is using the visit to push for Nigeria’s enlistment as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, saying his country has the population and is Africa’s largest economy.
He said,