Involve FG in international agreements, foreign minister tells states

The Federal Government has warned the 36 state governments against entering foreign or international negotiations without the input of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, made this known in a statement on Saturday in Abuja amid a dispute between the Ogun State Government and a Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, which has led to the seizure of three Nigerian presidential jets.

According Online reports that the presidential jets were seized by a French court on August 15, due to a contract dispute between the two parties.

The dispute reportedly stemmed from a 2007 agreement for the development of a free trade zone, which later fell apart, leading to arbitration and, ultimately, the seizure of the jets.

Despite an independent arbitral tribunal awarding Zhongshan approximately $74.5 million, the Ogun State Government has disputed the decision and has not yet honoured the award.

However, Tuggar emphasised the importance of registering international arrangements with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Embassy, and Federal Government to avoid similar issues in the future.

The minister noted that the Ogun State Government’s agreement with the Chinese company was made without the Federal Government’s knowledge, which has resulted in the seizure of Nigerian assets.

He stressed that foreign negotiations require experienced individuals with the necessary skills and training, and sub-national actors should not engage in such agreements alone.

The statement added, “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, without recourse to the Federal Government, and then when it goes awry, we are left with the problem to deal with.

“That is why it is always important that such arrangements should be registered with the mission there, with the embassy, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and with the Federal Government.

“This is something that Ogun State, under a different administration, not this governor, entered into that we’re not aware of. All we know is that they’re going after Nigerian assets. That’s why, really, foreign or international negotiations are not the purview of sub-national actors.

“You should always have those that are experienced in such an area that have the necessary skills and the necessary training to negotiate these sorts of agreements.”