Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Tuggar says West Africa holds key rare minerals vital for future industries, urging regional unity and investment at WAES 2025

[dropcap]N[/dropcap]igeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has stated that Nigeria and several other West African nations possess rare mineral resources crucial to the future of global industries—resources previously claimed by foreign publications to be monopolised by China.

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Tuggar made this known at the West Africa Economic Summit (WAES), held from 20 to 21 June 2025 in Abuja. The event drew dignitaries including Heads of State, Foreign Ministers, Senators, top government officials, traditional rulers, and members of the diplomatic corps.

Highlighting the region’s strategic importance, Tuggar said, “We have what the world needs. Let us bring in investment, build local processing capacity, and grow our transport and economic infrastructure. These are the building blocks of prosperity.”

He emphasised the urgency for West African countries to take charge of their destiny and demonstrate readiness to do business without overreliance on global summits.

According to him, the region has the skills, population, and resources to assert itself as a serious economic player on the world stage.

The time to act is now. We can no longer afford to let others define our value or dictate our terms.

Tuggar noted that while West Africa was historically an equal partner in global trade, the industrial revolution left it behind, diminishing its comparative advantage. Today, he said, it is time for the region to reclaim that place.

“West Africa can and should be part of this revolution,” he declared, adding that inter-country competition within the region is healthy and should be made mutually beneficial.

The Minister stressed the importance of empowering the informal sector, which he described as a natural driver of scale and efficiency that can accelerate entrepreneurship and job creation.

He also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for initiating the vision behind the summit during his tenure as ECOWAS Chairman in 2023.

He said Tinubu’s private sector experience and global perspective informed his push for a platform that would galvanise regional development through collaboration and practical action.

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Tuggar concluded by urging regional governments to align policies that facilitate trade, industrialisation, and value addition within West Africa, rather than exporting raw materials for marginal returns.