Presidential Jets: States Shouldn’t Enter International Contracts Alone – Minister of Foreign Affairs

Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, has warned sub-national bodies, such as state governments, against participating in foreign or international negotiations without the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Federal Government.

This warning follows a legal issue involving a Chinese corporation, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment, that resulted in the seizure of three Nigerian government jets by a French court. The court decision authorises the business to deploy Nigerian jets at Paris-Le Bourget and Basel-Mulhouse international airports to secure its €74,459,221 claim.

Ambassador Tuggar emphasised that foreign discussions conducted by states or other subnational entities without sufficient cooperation with federal authorities can result in issues, such as the current scenario involving the confiscated jets. He urged all state actors to ensure that any foreign accords or talks incorporate the Federal Government fully in order to avoid such disagreements and preserve Nigeria’s interests on a global scale.

He said; “Yes, the Attorney General and I are working on it both diplomatically and then from a legal perspective as well to ensure that this issue is resolved. This is part of the problem when sub-national actors like state governments take it upon themselves to go into agreements, go into international arrangements, without recourse to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, without recourse to the federal government, and then when it goes awry, we are left with the problem to deal with.

“That is why it is always important that such arrangements should be registered with the mission there, with the embassy, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and with the federal government.

“This is something that Ogun state, under a different administration, not this governor, entered into that we’re not aware of. All we know is that they’re going after Nigerian assets.

“That’s why, really, foreign or international negotiations are not the purview of sub-national actors. You should always have those that are experienced in such an area that have the necessary skills and the necessary training to negotiate these sorts of agreements.”

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli