By Peter Oseni
Nigeria has urged the African Union to enforce stricter financial discipline and strengthen institutional reforms to improve efficiency across the continental body.
Speaking at the 48th Ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, highlighted concerns over unchecked administrative expansion, discrepancies in financial records, and delays in implementing audit recommendations.
He called for a clear timetable to address outstanding audit queries and warned that expanding personnel without measurable improvements in productivity could weaken institutional effectiveness.
On Africa’s external engagements, Nigeria backed the use of the Banjul Formula for upcoming Africa–India and Africa–Türkiye talks, stressing the need for the continent to speak with a unified voice.
The Minister also drew attention to the worsening humanitarian situation in the Sahel and Lake Chad regions, urging increased continental and global support for displaced persons, refugees, and vulnerable populations.
Nigeria further cautioned against outsourcing migrant processing to third countries, noting that such arrangements could undermine human rights protections and African legal frameworks.
Highlighting the African Continental Free Trade Area, the Minister stressed the need to fill the vacant Head of Division for Digital Trade position to accelerate AfCFTA implementation.
Nigeria concluded by reaffirming its commitment to a transparent, accountable, and results-driven African Union anchored on principled multilateral cooperation.
