Nigeria, UK Strengthen Immigration and Security Partnership as Ambassador Tuggar Concludes High-Level Visit
Nigeria, UK Strengthen Immigration and Security Partnership as Ambassador Tuggar Concludes High-Level Visit
Jerry Adesewo
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deepening its partnership with the United Kingdom on migration, security, and justice reform following a series of high-level engagements during his official visit to the UK.
A key highlight of his visit was a strategic meeting with UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, where both leaders discussed collaborative efforts under the Nigeria-UK Migration, Justice, and Home Affairs Dialogue.
The discussions focused on tackling transnational crime, streamlining legal migration processes, and enhancing judicial cooperation—critical areas for both nations as they seek to strengthen border security and legal frameworks.
Ambassador Tuggar emphasised Nigeria’s proactive stance in fostering a well-structured migration system that benefits both countries while curbing irregular migration and associated security risks.
“Nigeria is committed to ensuring migration remains a tool for development, not exploitation. Our partnership with the UK will ensure a more efficient and fair system for legal migration while tackling criminal networks involved in human trafficking and other transnational crimes,” he stated.
Economic Diplomacy
Beyond migration and security, Ambassador Tuggar’s visit also covered economic diplomacy, trade, and investment. In his meeting with UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs, David Lammy, he explored strategies for strengthening economic cooperation, particularly in infrastructure, technology, and energy.
Further solidifying Nigeria’s global standing, the Foreign Minister delivered a compelling address at Chatham House, where he articulated Nigeria’s vision for foreign policy, its leadership role in Africa and the necessity for strategic global partnerships.
J P Morgan and British International Investment
The visit also included engagements with key financial institutions such as JP Morgan and British International Investment (BII), aimed at attracting investment in critical sectors. Ambassador Tuggar’s discussions with UK policymakers at the House of Commons further underscored the commitment to expanding trade and investment opportunities between the two nations.
Security cooperation remained a top priority, with discussions focusing on intelligence-sharing and counterterrorism efforts to combat insurgency and organized crime. Education and human capital development also featured prominently, as the Foreign Minister met with representatives from the University of Cambridge and the African Centre to discuss enhanced academic collaborations and scholarship programs for Nigerian students.
“Ambassador Tuggar’s visit aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “4-D Foreign Policy Agenda”—Democracy, Development, Diaspora, and Defence—positioning Nigeria as a key player on the global stage,” Alkasim Abdulkadir, the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communication, stated, adding that the engagements in the UK are expected to translate into tangible outcomes, including increased British investment, reinforced security collaborations, and deeper academic exchanges.
As Nigeria continues to build strategic alliances, the strengthened immigration and security partnership with the UK marks a significant step in addressing global challenges and fostering mutually beneficial cooperation.
Nigeria, UK Strengthen Immigration and Security Partnership as Ambassador Tuggar Concludes High-Level Visit