Speaking at the Reuters NEXT Gulf Summit in Abu Dhabi, Tuggar likened the West’s attitude toward African trade to the video game Minecraft, where players mine and gather resources for their own use. “Sometimes it’s like the game Minecraft: there’s oil, there’s gas, there’s critical minerals, rare earths. We put a bit of this, we invest in this. No, that’s not the way it goes,” he said.
He stressed that Africa’s engagement with developed economies must be anchored in equality and a genuine commitment to the continent’s development. “The engagement should be based on mutual respect, based on shared interests and based on the fact that Africa needs to develop. If it doesn’t develop, we continue to deal with irregular migration, with all these other challenges,” Tuggar added.
Nigeria’s Trade Outlook and Resilience
Commenting on Nigeria’s trade resilience amid global shifts, Tuggar noted that Africa’s most populous country has been relatively insulated from the effects of U.S. President Donald Trump’s 15% tariffs on Nigerian goods, including oil and gas. He attributed this to Nigeria’s vast internal market of 230 million people—projected to reach 400 million by 2050—and its diversified trade relations with partners such as China, India, and Brazil.
He highlighted the government’s ongoing economic reforms, including exchange rate stabilization, improved foreign exchange access, and tax incentives designed to attract investors. Tuggar also pointed to recent reforms in the power sector, aimed at unbundling the electricity value chain to encourage investment and introduce feed-in tariffs for renewable energy.
However, despite these efforts, power supply remains one of Nigeria’s biggest economic hurdles. According to the World Bank, four in ten Nigerians still lack access to electricity, while frequent blackouts in urban areas continue to force businesses and households to rely on costly and polluting diesel generators.
Tackling Misleading Narratives
Addressing concerns about Nigeria’s image abroad, Tuggar spoke strongly against what he described as “false narratives” of religious persecution circulating online and amplified by some U.S. commentators.
“One of our major challenges at the moment is the false narratives being created about Nigeria—this issue of religious persecution, Christians being persecuted—which couldn’t be further from the truth,” he said. “Investors need to come and see for themselves.”
Nigeria, a country of more than 200 ethnic groups, is home to vibrant communities of Christians, Muslims, and traditional worshippers. While the nation has grappled with violent conflicts—some of which intertwine with ethnic and resource-based tensions—officials maintain that religion alone is rarely the root cause.
For over 15 years, Nigeria’s northeast has been plagued by the Boko Haram insurgency, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives, mostly among Muslim communities.
Tuggar’s comments come as Nigeria seeks to reshape its global image and assert a leadership role in Africa’s trade and development discourse. His message to the world was clear: Africa’s partnership with richer nations must move beyond extraction and embrace genuine collaboration that supports sustainable growth on both sides.