Nigeria: Tuggar Welcomes Blinken, Holds Bilateral Talks On Security Cooperation

Secretary Antony Blinken visiting the art gallery in Lagos founded by Nike Davies-Okundaye.
23 January 2024

Mr Tuggar later held talks with Mr Blinken with a focus on deepening democracy in the West African subregion, strengthening trade relations and security cooperation.

The Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, on Tuesday, welcomed the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken and intends to hold bilateral talks on security cooperation among others.

In a statement, the S.A. Media and Communications Strategy to the minister, Alkasim Abdulkadir, said Mr Tuggar received the high-ranking diplomat at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, also accompanied the minister to receive the US Secretary of State.

Mr Tuggar later held talks with Mr Blinken with a focus on deepening democracy in the West African subregion, strengthening trade relations and security cooperation.

The minister has also planned to use the opportunity to urge the US and the wider international community to give serious consideration to multilateral reforms, particularly that of democratizing the United Nations Security Council.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Tuggar at the just concluded World Economic Forum (WEF) said there was a need to democratise the United Nations (UN) security council because it is "clumsy and not working".

He said the values of democracy such as the rule of law should be replicated in the world's highest decision organs.

"What we have to do is collectively practice what we preach.

"The values that we uphold democracy, rule of law need to be practised, and we need to see them being practised in the very decision-making bodies or entities for the planet.

"So, to begin with, the UN Security Council needs to be democratized. Clearly, it is not fit for purpose.

"We should do away with the veto powers on the UN Security Council; clearly, it's clumsy and not working.

"Again, when you look at the global security architecture, it is impacted by such undemocratic entities that influence decisions."

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.