The Ministry of Foreign Affairs began as a small unit in the Prime Minister’s office in September 1957. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for managing Nigeria’s relations with other countries and international organizations.
However, It was first called the Department of External Affairs and became fully established in 1960, shortly after Nigeria’s independence. At independence, the Ministry was renamed the Ministry of Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
When Nigeria became a Republic in 1963, it was renamed the Ministry of External Affairs. Finally, in 1989, the name was changed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as it is known today.
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List Of Ministers Of Foreign Affairs In Nigeria From 1960 Till Date
No | Name | Term In Office | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Abubakar Tafawa Balewa | 1 October 1960 – 17 July 1961 | First Prime Minister of Nigeria |
2 | Jaja Wachuku | 17 July 1961 – 7 January 1965 | First Minister of Foreign Affairs |
3 | Nuhu Bamalli | 1 December 1965 – 17 January 1966 | Served during Balewa's second term |
4 | Okoi Arikpo | 3 September 1967 – 29 July 1975 | Appointed during military rule |
5 | Joseph Nanven Garba | 6 August 1975 – July 1978 | Served under two military leaders |
6 | Henry Adefope | July 1978 – 1979 | Minister during Obasanjo's regime |
7 | Ishaya Audu | December 1979 – October 1983 | Served during the Second Republic |
8 | Emeka Anyaoku | October 1983 – December 1983 | Brief tenure during Shagari's second term |
9 | Ibrahim Gambari | 18 January 1984 – 27 August 1985 | Appointed by Buhari |
10 | Bolaji Akinyemi | 11 September 1985 – 21 December 1987 | Served under Babangida |
11 | Ike Nwachukwu | 21 December 1987 – 30 December 1989 | Notable military figure |
12 | Rilwanu Lukman | 30 December 1989 – 30 August 1990 | Key role in oil diplomacy |
13 | Ike Nwachukwu | 30 August1990 – January1993 | Returned for a brief period |
14 | Matthew Mbu | 4 January 1993 –17 November1993 | Led during the Interim National Government |
15 | Baba Gana Kingibe | 23 November 1993 –20 March1995 | Appointed by Abacha |
16 | Tom Ikimi | March 1995 –8 June1998 | Influential in foreign policy |
17 | Ignatius Olisemeka | August1998 – June1999 | Served under Abubakar |
18 | Sule Lamido | Jun 1999 – May2003 | Minister during Obasanjo's first term |
19 | Oluyemi Adeniji | July2003 – June2006 | Promoted Nigeria's interests abroad |
20 | Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala | June 2006 –4 August2006 | Resigned after a short tenure |
21 | Joy Ogwu | August 2006 –29 May2007 | First female Foreign Minister |
22 | Ojo Maduekwe | July 2007 –17 March2010 | Played a role in regional diplomacy |
23 | Martin Ihoeghian Uhomoibhi | March2010 -April2010 | Served as supervising minister |
24 | Henry Odein Ajumogobia | April 2010 -9 July2011 | Focused on international relations |
25 | Olugbenga Ashiru | 11 July 2011 -11 September2013 | Advocated for economic diplomacy |
26 | Viola Onwuliri | 11 September2013 - March2014 | Promoted women's rights in foreign policy |
27 | Aminu Bashir Wali | 5 March 2014 -29 May2015 | Strengthened bilateral relations |
28 | Geoffrey Onyeama | 11 November 2015 -29 May2023 | Longest-serving in the Fourth Republic |
29 | Yusuf Tuggar | 21 August2023 - Incumbent | Current Minister |
List Of Departments Under The Ministry Of Foreign Affairs In Nigeria
- Protocol
- Planning Research and Statistics
- Foreign Service Inspectorate
List Of Parastatals Under The Ministry Of Foreign Affairs In Nigeria
- Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa
- Institute For Peace and Conflict Resolution
- Nigerian Foreign Service Academy
- Nigerians in Diaspora Commission
- Nigerian Institute of International Affairs
- Technical Aid Corps
Who Was The First Minister Of Foreign Affairs In Nigeria?
Jaja Wachuku was the first Minister of Foreign Affairs in Nigeria. He was appointed in 1961 and served until 1965. Before Wachuku took office, the role of foreign affairs was handled by the Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, who also acted as Nigeria’s foreign affairs advocate.
Wachuku was a lawyer from the Eastern Region of Nigeria and had previously been the Speaker of the House of Representatives. His appointment was recommended to the UK Secretary of State for the Colonies, Iain Macleod, by the last colonial Governor-General of Nigeria, Sir James Wilson Robertson.
In his report, Robertson described Wachuku as an intelligent young man with strong nationalist views who could perform well if properly managed. During his time as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wachuku made notable contributions to Nigeria’s foreign policy.
He was known for his quiet diplomacy, especially with powerful countries like Great Britain and the United States. For example, during the Rivonia Trial in South Africa, where Nelson Mandela and others faced the death penalty, Wachuku urged foreign officials to intercede and prevent such sentences.
His efforts were recognized, as they helped spare the lives of Mandela and his co-defendants. In 1962, Wachuku received the insignia of the Commander of the Order of the Niger Republic from President Hamani Diori of Niger, acknowledging his services to the people of Niger.
Wachuku was also instrumental in organizing the Afro-Asian group of states and improved the representation of African nations within the United Nations. Wachuku was respected internationally, often demanding the same level of attention and respect that foreign ministers from Western powers received.
His foresight was clear when he opposed recognizing the government of Togo after its first coup in 1963, believing it would set a dangerous precedent for Africa. This decision proved to be wise as military coups became more common across the continent.
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Who Is The New Minister Of Foreign Affairs In Nigeria?
Yusuf Tuggar is the current Minister of Foreign Affairs in Nigeria. He took office on August 21, 2023, after serving as the Nigerian Ambassador to Germany from 2017 to 2023.
He succeeded Geoffrey Onyeama. Born on March 12, 1967, in North-Eastern Nigeria, Tuggar comes from a political family.
His father, Abubakar Tuggar, was active in politics, being the Publicity Secretary of the Northern People’s Congress during Nigeria’s First Republic.
Yusuf Tuggar studied international relations at the United States International University. He also attended the University of Bath and earned a master’s degree from the University of Cambridge.
Before his political career, Tuggar worked in the private sector. He was the CEO of Nordic Oil and Gas Services and gained valuable experience in energy consulting.
He also wrote articles on political and economic issues for different Nigerian newspapers and magazines. Tuggar’s political career began when he was elected to the House of Representatives from Bauchi State and served from 2007 to 2011.
In the House, he was the Chairman of the Committee on Public Procurement, which focused on managing government spending, especially in oil and gas, education, health, and water resources.
He also created the National Council on Public Procurement to oversee how contracts are awarded in Nigeria. In 2011, Tuggar ran for governor of Bauchi State but finished second in a controversial election filled with fraud and violence.
He joined the All Progressives Congress in 2013 and tried again to win the governorship, but he did not succeed in the primaries. As Ambassador to Germany, Tuggar played a part in various diplomatic matters.
He was involved in major discussions on climate change and helped organize the state visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Nigeria in 2018.
One of his notable achievements was initiating the return of stolen Benin artifacts from Germany. Now, as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tuggar is tasked with promoting Nigeria’s interests abroad.