Ayobamiji Komolafe 
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has heavily criticized state governments for engaging in international negotiations without involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Minister stated this on Saturday amid the recent seizure of three Nigerian government jets by a French court.
Saturday Telegraph had earlier reported that the court ordered that the jets be used as “security” for a claim of EUR 74,459,221 by Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment, a Chinese company.
READ ALSO:
- Foreign Affairs Minister Seeks Unity, Prayers Against Insecurity
- Foreign Affairs Minister Receives Blinken In Presidential Villa
- Foreign Affairs Ministry flays lawmakers over planned public hearing
In a statement issued over the weekend, Tuggar emphasized that the dispute arose because Ogun State, under a previous administration, entered into agreements without federal oversight.
“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 or the federal government,” he said.
According to him, he alongside the Attorney General of the Federation is working both diplomatically and legally to resolve the issue.
He stressed that such international negotiations should be managed by experienced professionals within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to avoid similar conflicts in the future.
“It is always important that such arrangements should be registered with the embassy, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and with the federal government,” Tuggar added.
