….Former Foreign Affairs Minister calls for stronger continental integration, warns against discrimination among Africans

By Adeko Ukpa

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has condemned the growing hostility against fellow Africans in parts of the continent, particularly South Africa.

He warned that xenophobia undermines the ideals of Pan-Africanism and threatens Africa’s collective future.

Tuggar said Africa could not genuinely pursue continental unity, economic integration and shared prosperity while citizens of one African country were subjected to discrimination, intimidation and violence in another.

He spoke at the 2026 end-of-year event of The Bridge Club, where he served as chairman of the occasion.

The event featured renowned Kenyan scholar and Pan-African advocate, Professor P.L.O. Lumumba, as keynote speaker.

L-R: The President of The Bridge Club Lagos, Mr. Abdulhakeem Mustapha (SAN); the Executive Secretary, TETFUND, Arc. Sonny Echono; the Chairman of the occasion and a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar; a special guest, Mr Brodericks Arigbodi; and the Keynote Speaker, Prof. P.L.O. Lumumba at the end-of-the-year symposium of the club on Xenophobia and Pan-Africanism on Thursday at the Continental Hotel, Lagos.

The former minister, who reflected on Nigeria’s historical involvement in the struggle against apartheid in Southern Africa, said the country had made enormous sacrifices to secure the liberation of African countries from racist minority rule.

He recalled how Nigeria provided scholarships and other assistance to victims of apartheid, including South African students who survived the 1976 Soweto massacre.

According to him, Nigeria’s solidarity extended to Namibia, Angola and other African countries struggling against colonialism and racial oppression.

He said Nigerians of his generation grew up believing in African liberation and unity, making the current hostility against Nigerians and other black Africans in South Africa particularly difficult to understand.

Tuggar said: “These are but a very few of the reasons why Nigerians cannot fathom why they and other black Africans are being targeted in South Africa.

“Call it Afrophobia, which may be a better description than xenophobia, as non-black Africans appear to be exempted, or the more euphemistic framing of anti-migration protests, it is wrong and must be condemned.”

He described the development as particularly unfortunate at a time when African countries should be strengthening cooperation to improve their economic and political standing in the international community.

Tuggar, however, argued that understanding the historical and structural factors behind the hostility was necessary to addressing the problem, stressing that historical context should not be mistaken for justification.

He traced some of the roots of institutionalised segregation in Africa to colonial policies and the apartheid system, arguing that their psychological and social consequences continued to influence relationships within African societies.

The former minister said the continent needed intellectual rigour, historical understanding and stronger institutions to confront prejudice and other attitudes that undermine African solidarity.

He also identified economic integration and industrial development as critical elements of genuine Pan-Africanism.

According to him, Africa cannot achieve meaningful development by remaining a supplier of raw materials to the rest of the world while importing finished products.

He cited the vision of Nigerian development economist Adebayo Adedeji and other African intellectuals who advocated manufacturing, regional integration and the development of an African Economic Community.

Tuggar said the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) offered an important opportunity to advance that vision by strengthening trade, industrialisation and the movement of goods and services across national borders.

He identified three important connections between economic integration and Pan-Africanism, including the need for free movement of labour as a foundation of an effective continental free trade system.

He said: “The path to Pan-Africanism is through the continental free trade area.

“As the father of capitalism, Adam Smith, once opined, the free circulation of labour is the foundation of any free trade system.”

Tuggar also expressed concern about the possible influence of external interests in fuelling anti-migrant sentiments, calling for greater scrutiny of organised anti-immigration campaigns and their sources of funding.

He warned that the relationship between Nigeria and South Africa remained too important to the continent’s future to be undermined by hostility and mutual suspicion.

He recalled South Africa’s support for Nigeria’s international engagements, including its efforts towards joining the Group of 20 (G20).

Earlier, President of The Bridge Club, Abdulhakeem Mustapha (SAN), said the theme of the event, Xenophobia Contradicts Pan-Africanism, reflected the urgent need for Africans to reconcile their commitment to continental unity with their treatment of fellow Africans.

Mustapha said Pan-Africanism must go beyond political declarations, diplomatic conferences and economic agreements to become evident in people’s attitudes and conduct.

He asked: “How can we genuinely aspire to a united Africa when an African is made to feel unwelcome, unsafe or unwanted in another African country simply because of nationality, ethnicity or origin?”

He added that Africa’s prosperity, security and dignity were interconnected and could not be achieved sustainably at the expense of another African country.

Mustapha urged members of the club and other stakeholders to promote tolerance, mutual respect and understanding across national and cultural boundaries.

The event brought together professionals, business leaders, diplomats and other distinguished guests to discuss the future of African unity and the responsibilities of citizens in building a more inclusive continent.

By Adeko Ukpa

The  17th Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the French Republic, Ambassador Ayodele Oke, CFR has promised to recalibrate the ties between the two countries.

He also promised to give priorities to security, trade, and investment.

Oke unfolded his agenda while presenting his Letters of Credence to the French President, Emmanuel Macron at Élysée Palace in Paris.

CAPTION: The 17th Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the French Republic, Ambassador Ayodele Oke, CFR presenting his Letters of Credence to President Emmanuel at Élysée Palace on Monday. PHOTO: NIGERIA EMBASSY, PARIS

Envoy’s Priorities for France

A statement by the Nigerian Embassy in Paris said he pledged to uphold Nigeria’s values and reputation with clarity and credibility.

He said: “I am pleased to inform you that on 5 October 2026, I presented my Letters of Credence to President Emmanuel Macron and formally assumed my duties as the 17th Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the French Republic.

“The brief yet significant ceremony took place in the grandeur of the historic, iconic Élysée Palace, with its regal ambience.

“It underscored the compelling need to elevate and recalibrate the partnership between Nigeria and France.

“This means strengthening bilateral relations in security, trade, and investment, while upholding our values and reputation with clarity and credibility.

“It also means shaping conversations, securing advantages, protecting citizens, and promoting Nigeria’s national image.”

From Adeko Ukpa, Abuja

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has congratulated Senegal’s newly elected Speaker Ousmane Sonko, while accusing President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of betraying the trust of the Senegalese people and abandoning the reform ideals that brought his administration to power.

Frank, in a statement on Wednesday, said the growing political crisis in Senegal reflects what he described as a painful betrayal of the revolutionary vision championed by former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and the PASTEF movement.

According to him, millions of Senegalese youths who supported the movement in pursuit of accountability, sovereignty and institutional reforms are now disillusioned by what they see as a gradual return to the old political order.

Frank noted that Sonko played the central role in reshaping Senegal’s political landscape long before President Faye emerged on the national stage, describing the Prime Minister as the symbol of resistance against the former administration of ex-President Macky Sall.

The international affairs advisor said Sonko inspired a generation of young Senegalese demanding political and economic independence, institutional reforms and freedom from foreign influence.

The former APC spokesman recalled that after Sonko’s strong performance in the 2019 presidential election, he became the country’s most formidable opposition figure, leading to what he described as years of political persecution, controversial arrests and legal battles aimed at preventing him from becoming president.

Frank argued that despite imprisonment and eventual disqualification from contesting the 2024 presidential election, Sonko remained committed to the movement and mobilised supporters from detention to back Faye as the candidate of continuity for the PASTEF vision.

“Without Sonko’s sacrifices, political structure, popularity and influence among Senegalese youths, Bassirou Diomaye Faye would almost certainly never have become president,” Frank stated.

He added that even President Faye publicly acknowledged Sonko’s role during his inauguration by crediting him for the movement’s victory and sacrifices.

Frank, however, alleged that shortly after assuming office, the Faye administration began deviating from the ideals that inspired the movement, particularly through the alleged return of individuals associated with the former Macky Sall administration into positions of influence.

He further accused President Faye of allegedly taking Senegal back under French influence contrary to the aspirations of the reform movement.

“The fight between President Faye and PM Sonko is mainly because President Faye has betrayed the trust reposed in him by the Senegalese people by taking Senegal back to the control of France,” Frank alleged.

He said many supporters of Sonko now view the development as a betrayal of the revolution they fought for and fear that the political establishment the movement sought to dismantle is quietly regaining influence.

Frank maintained that Sonko remains the authentic face of the struggle for a new Senegal built on economic independence, youth empowerment, institutional reforms and African self-determination.

He urged Senegalese citizens to remain steadfast and continue supporting Sonko’s leadership and long-term vision for the country.

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, also advised Sonko to begin building broader international alliances, particularly with the United States and other global partners willing to support democratic development and economic growth without undermining Senegal’s sovereignty.

According to Frank, Senegal stands at a critical crossroads between genuine reform and a return to entrenched political structures.

He warned that history would judge whether President Faye upheld the revolutionary ideals that brought him to power or aligned himself with the establishment the Senegalese people voted to reject.