Ambassador Tuggar’s Doctrine of Calm in a World on Fire By Umar Farouk Bala
As whispers of a third World War echo through headlines and social feeds, ignited by the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, one Nigerian voice stands calm against the noise. It is steady, clear, and strategic.
That voice belongs to Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs. While powerful nations rush into military postures and ideological alliances, Tuggar’s doctrine of strategic autonomy offers Nigeria something more vital—protection.
In an age where fear travels faster than facts, his approach is not just policy. It is reassurance. The world watches as Israel’s Operation Rising Lion and America’s Operation Midnight Hammer strike deep into Iranian nuclear infrastructure. Iran responds with missiles, targeting even U.S. bases in Qatar.
With every move, the threat of escalation grows louder. In this rising storm, many Nigerians are asking a simple question: will we be dragged into this? Tuggar has already answered. And the answer is no.
At the helm of Nigeria’s foreign affairs, he has returned us to the wisdom of our founding diplomacy—one built not on fear, not on fawning, but on freedom. He has revived the legacy of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, grounding Nigeria’s posture in independent judgment and constitutional sovereignty.
His version of non-alignment is not passive. It is active, thoughtful, and assertive. It is a firm declaration that Nigeria will not dance to the tune of foreign capitals. Not in Washington. Not in Tehran. Not in Tel Aviv or Moscow. Nigeria will speak for itself, and act for itself.
Back in January, Tuggar published a landmark article, Foreign Policy and a Path to Peace in a Dangerous Neighbourhood. It laid out a clear and credible roadmap—one rooted not in ideological fashion or foreign pressure, but in logic, dignity, and national interest. That clarity is needed now more than ever.
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In a world where proximity to power can mean proximity to peril, Tuggar’s doctrine creates distance from chaos. While others are being pulled into great-power rivalries, Nigeria remains anchored, principled, and unshaken.This is not luck. It is strategy.
It is the product of resisting easy alignments and shallow alliances. Tuggar has made it plain. Nigeria will not be used in proxy wars. We will not join ideological crusades. Our loyalty is not for sale. It lies with peace, with our people, and with our future.
His doctrine of strategic autonomy is not just about staying neutral. It is about staying sovereign. It gives Nigeria the space to engage with the world on its own terms—with the East, the West, and every major player—without being pressured, boxed in, or dictated to.
It reflects a deep understanding of the global moment. This is not the Cold War. It is a multipolar world where power is fragmented, and influence often comes with strings. In that reality, independence is not a luxury. It is a necessity.
Tuggar brings more than diplomatic experience to the role. He brings clarity. Where others echo old loyalties, he reads the new room. Where others fold under pressure, he stands firm. His youth and intellect are not limitations. They are his strength.
At a time when the world is shouting about retaliation and nuclear strikes, Tuggar speaks of sovereignty, logic, and peace. That alone is a form of leadership. His approach aligns with the Tinubu administration’s broader ‘Nigeria First’ doctrine.
And rightly so. Foreign policy must first serve the people at home. It must protect our economy, preserve our peace, and project our values without compromising them. Tuggar understands that true power is not in picking fights. It is in having the freedom not to.
And through that freedom, Nigeria gains the moral clarity, diplomatic space, and strategic posture to act as a stabilising force—not a pawn. So for Nigerians wondering what this global storm means for us, the answer is this: we are not spectators in chaos, and we are not participants in folly.
We are led by a foreign minister who believes that diplomacy is not a sign of weakness. It is the highest form of strength. In a time of war fever and panic, Tuggar is not just watching the world. He is shielding his country from its worst impulses.
And in that, Nigeria finds not just safety, but pride.
