Presidential Jet Seizure: Federal Govt issues fresh warning to Governors over International negotiations
Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, has warned the 36 state governments against engaging in foreign or international negotiations without prior consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Federal Government.
His statement comes in the wake of a dispute involving a Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment, which has led to the French court seizing three Federal Government jets.
Tuggar underscored the necessity of involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as relevant embassies and federal agencies, in international agreements to prevent such complications in the future.
He specifically referenced an agreement made by the Ogun State Government with the Chinese firm, which was conducted without federal oversight and has resulted in the seizure of Nigerian assets.
The Minister emphasized that international negotiations require the expertise and training of seasoned professionals, and state governments should not undertake such agreements independently.
“This is part of the problem when sub-national actors like state governments take it upon themselves to go into agreements, go into international arrangements, without recourse to the ministry of foreign affairs, without recourse to the federal government, and then when it goes awry, we are left with the problem to deal with.
“That is why it is always important that such arrangements should be registered with the mission there, with the embassy, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and with the federal government.
“This is something that Ogun state, under a different administration, not this Governor, entered into what we’re not aware of. All we know is that they’re going after Nigerian assets.
“That’s why, really, foreign or international negotiations are not the purview of sub-national actors.
“You should always have those that are experienced in such an area that have the necessary skills and the necessary training to negotiate these sorts of agreements.”
