Bolu Michael-Biyi Raises Alarm Over Nigeria’s Diplomatic Decline

Popular foreign policy analyst, Bolu Michael-Biyi, has decried what he describes as Nigeria’s rapidly deteriorating foreign policy architecture. In an opinion post titled “The One Thing Destroying Nigeria’s Foreign Policy,” Michael-Biyi criticised the current Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, arguing that his leadership has left Nigeria diplomatically weakened and increasingly vulnerable on the global stage.

In the piece, Michael-Biyi contends that Nigeria is witnessing “a slow, silent erosion of institutional purpose,” warning that the country’s foreign policy machinery has become ineffective at a time when national reputation and citizen safety depend heavily on diplomacy. He argues that the Tinubu administration has deprioritised external engagement, focusing almost entirely on domestic politics and leaving the foreign ministry directionless.

He identifies one of the most alarming failures as Nigeria’s nearly two-year absence of substantive ambassadors in key global missions. According to him, the lack of ambassadors leaves the country “blind and mute,” unable to gather intelligence, coordinate responses to crises, or engage host governments effectively.

Michael-Biyi also criticised Tuggar’s recent public appearances, including interviews in Germany and on Piers Morgan’s Uncensored, where he said the minister fumbled critical questions about alleged killings of Christians in Nigeria. He noted that Tuggar failed to provide data, relied on references to inaccessible documents, and made statements that were later contested – actions he warns severely damage Nigeria’s credibility internationally.

He further argued that when a foreign minister appears unprepared or evasive on global platforms, the consequences outlast the moment, and reinforces negative perceptions about Nigeria’s governance and weakens the country’s diplomatic leverage.

Calling for urgent action, Michael-Biyi stated that defending national interest requires honesty about governmental shortcomings. He urged President Tinubu to dismiss the foreign minister, insisting that Nigeria “deserves a foreign minister who understands that the job is about strategy, vigilance, and the relentless defence of national interest.”

Michael-Biyi, a former Legal Analyst at the African Union, concluded that Yusuf Tuggar has become “the one thing destroying Nigeria’s foreign policy,” and that replacing him is essential for restoring Nigeria’s global standing.