NIGERIA’S Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has resigned his position to pursue his governorship ambition in Bauchi State ahead of the 2027 general elections.

His resignation was confirmed on Monday by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, who dismissed earlier speculation, stating; “The resignation of the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs is confirmed.”

Tuggar’s exit is in line with a directive by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, mandating all political appointees seeking elective office to step down on or before March 31, 2026.

The directive, conveyed through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, has triggered a wave of expected resignations within the cabinet.

Appointed in August 2023, Tuggar took over from Geoffrey Onyeama, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

His appointment was seen as part of efforts by the Tinubu administration to reposition Nigeria’s foreign policy through its “4Ds” agenda; Democracy, Development, Diaspora and Demography.

However, his tenure was marked by persistent challenges, particularly funding constraints that affected Nigeria’s diplomatic missions abroad.

Tuggar had repeatedly raised concerns over inadequate budgetary provisions, warning that several embassies were struggling to meet basic operational needs, including payment of staff salaries and maintenance of facilities.

The funding crisis led to reports of deteriorating conditions in some Nigerian missions, with complaints of poor infrastructure and mounting debts in key diplomatic posts.

The situation drew criticism from stakeholders who argued that it undermined Nigeria’s image and influence on the global stage.

Despite these setbacks, Tuggar maintained that the ministry was working to stabilise operations while pushing forward with the administration’s foreign policy objectives.

Efforts were also made to strengthen bilateral relations and attract investment, though analysts say progress was uneven due to structural and financial limitations.

Before his ministerial appointment, Tuggar represented Gamawa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives between 2007 and 2011 and later served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany from 2017 to 2023.

His resignation comes amid growing political activity ahead of the 2027 elections, with supporters in Bauchi State already signalling his intention to join the governorship race.

With his exit, attention is expected to shift to the presidency over the appointment of a substantive replacement, as well as the broader implications for Nigeria’s foreign policy direction at a time of evolving global and regional dynamics.