Nigeria recommits to Africa’s democratic governance, multilateral partnership

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to advancing Africa’s democratic governance, regional cooperation, and multilateral partnership.

Tuggar disclosed this in a statement on Friday issued by the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, against the backdrop of the minister’s participation at the high-level ministerial forum on regional partnership for democracy.

The forum was organised by Nigeria on the sidelines of the ongoing AU Summit and was attended by ministers from South Africa, Sierra Leone, and Mauritania, as well as diplomats and representatives of the African Union and United Nations Development Programme, among others.

The event was held on the margins of the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in Addis Ababa.

According to him, Nigeria remains convinced that democracy in Africa can be safeguarded most effectively through prevention rather than reaction.

“Through partnership rather than prescription, and through legitimacy grounded in public trust. It is by strengthening democracy before it falters that we secure its future,”Tuggar said.

The minister said that the meeting was apt, coming at a moment when democracy in Africa, though widely affirmed in principle, was increasingly tested in practice.

He highlighted that while citizens remained committed to democratic ideals, public confidence in democratic institutions had been weakened by governance deficits, unmet socio-economic expectations, and declining institutional performance.

Tuggar said: “Democracy on the continent, therefore, must do more than survive; it must command trust through delivery.

“It was in recognition of this imperative that Nigeria, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme, launched the Regional Partnership for Democracy (RPD) in November, 2025.

“Since its launch, the initiative has generated considerable interest among Member States, multilateral institutions, and development partners, many of whom are actively engaging with Nigeria on modalities of support.

“Nigeria remains open to additional partners, for the simple reason that the task of renewing democratic governance in our region cannot be carried out by one country, or indeed one institution, alone.

“As we say in Africa, a single head cannot carry a heavy load. Democracy is a shared enterprise, and its defence and renewal require collective efforts.”

Tuggar explained that RPD was conceived as a preventive rather than a curative measure, to strengthen democratic systems in advance, thereby inspiring public trust and reinforcing institutional legitimacy.

“Also, enhancing the capacity, independence, and credibility of democratic institutions.
“RPD seeks to avert the loss of confidence in governance systems which, if left unattended, often creates fertile ground for external interference and, ultimately, unconstitutional changes of government.

“For democracy to deliver meaningfully and sustainably, there must be a sustained focus on strengthening independent, professional, and credible institutions, particularly electoral bodies, judiciaries, legislatures, and oversight agencies.

“Democratic governance must be deliberately aligned with tangible socio-economic outcomes that directly respond to the expectations and lived realities of citizens.

‘Citizens must experience democracy not only at the ballot box, but through improved service delivery, job creation, social protection among others,” he said.

“Lastly is inclusive participation, especially of youth and women, who constitute the majority of our population, yet remain underrepresented in decision-making processes.

“Such require sustained investment in civic education, political inclusion, leadership development, and responsible digital engagement.

” So, that participation is informed, constructive, and anchored in democratic values rather than misinformation or polarisation,” the Minister said.

He added that engagement with the RPD entailed supporting institutional capacity-building initiatives and peer-review mechanisms that promoted accountability and shared learning across countries.

“This involve investing in civic education, youth empowerment, inclusive governance programmes that broaden and deepen political participation, providing technical expertise, facilitating knowledge exchange, and mobilising predictable financing aligned with regional priorities and national ownership. “

He added that other measures included strengthening coordination with Regional Economic Communities and relevant organs of the African Union, which he said was essential to ensure coherence, complementarity, and the long-term sustainability of democratic support efforts.