Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has described the country’s democratic tradition as a stabilizing force in West Africa, worthy of emulation amid growing political uncertainty in the subregion.
Tuggar made the statement on Thursday in a press release to commemorate Democracy Day.
He noted that despite recent challenges in West Africa, including unconstitutional changes of government, Nigeria has maintained its democratic trajectory through regular elections, peaceful transitions of power, and adherence to constitutional norms. “Nigeria stands as a beacon of hope and stability in the region,” Tuggar said.
The Minister emphasized that Nigeria’s democratic institutions, though imperfect, remain resilient, even as he stressed the importance of the rule of law, electoral accountability, and civic participation for long-term peace and development.
Tuggar’s remarks come amid ECOWAS’ efforts to address military takeovers in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Niger.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to regional diplomacy, emphasizing that democratic governance must be central to ECOWAS’ conflict resolution strategy.
