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Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has condemned the growing hostility against fellow Africans in parts of the continent, particularly South Africa, describing it as a contradiction of the principles of pan-Africanism.
He called for renewed commitment to African unity, solidarity and economic integration, warning that discrimination against citizens of other African countries undermines the continent’s shared aspirations.
He spoke at the 2026 end-of-year event of The Bridge Club, which featured renowned African scholar and public intellectual, Professor P.L.O. Lumumba, as keynote speaker.
The former minister expressed disappointment that Nigerians and other black Africans were being targeted in South Africa, recalling Nigeria’s significant contributions to the country’s liberation from apartheid.
He said Nigeria had supported the anti-apartheid struggle through scholarships for South African students, assistance to liberation movements across Southern Africa and other diplomatic and economic measures.
According to him, Nigerians of his generation grew up with a strong commitment to the liberation of Africa from racist regimes.
He recalled that survivors of the June 1976 Soweto massacre were accommodated in Nigerian boarding schools and supported with scholarships after Nigeria adopted them as its own.
He also cited the establishment of the South African Relief Fund, following the intervention of Mrs Maude Obanye, wife of a Nigerian diplomat, as evidence of Nigeria’s historic commitment to African solidarity.
He further recalled that Nigeria took difficult economic and diplomatic decisions in opposition to apartheid, including the nationalisation of Barclays Bank and British Petroleum in support of the liberation struggle.
He said the current hostility against fellow Africans represented a departure from the ideals that inspired the continent’s liberation movements.
“These are but a very few of the reasons why Nigerians cannot fathom why they and other black Africans are being targeted in South Africa,” he said.
Describing the incidents as Afrophobia rather than simply xenophobia, Tuggar argued that the distinction was significant because non-black foreigners appeared to be treated differently.
He, however, cautioned against using historical circumstances to justify discrimination, insisting that “context is not justification.”
The former minister traced some of the divisions among African countries to colonial administrative policies, which he said created ethnic, cultural and economic divisions that continued to shape relationships across the continent.
He also warned that Africa’s inability to translate political liberation into economic cooperation had undermined its development prospects.
He urged African countries to prioritise manufacturing, industrialisation and regional trade instead of relying on the export of raw materials and the importation of finished products.
He identified the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as an opportunity to address the imbalance and build a more integrated continental economy.
“The path to Pan-Africanism is through the continental free trade area,” he said.
He also advocated free movement of labour across Africa, arguing that economic integration would remain incomplete unless citizens could move freely between countries to work, invest and contribute to development.
The former minister called for stronger cooperation between Nigeria and South Africa, describing their relationship as critical to the continent’s economic and political future.
Earlier, President of The Bridge Club, Abdulhakeem Mustapha, said continued discrimination against Africans in other African countries contradicted the ideals of continental unity.
Mustapha maintained that pan-Africanism should be reflected in everyday conduct, institutional practices and the treatment of citizens from other African countries.
“How can we preach pan-Africanism while tolerating attitudes and practices that diminish the humanity and dignity of fellow Africans?” he asked.
He said the destiny of African countries was interconnected and that no nation could achieve sustainable prosperity by undermining the dignity and security of others.
He explained that the club deliberately selected the theme to encourage intellectual engagement with one of the continent’s pressing challenges.
He described The Bridge Club as a community of accomplished individuals from different professional, cultural and social backgrounds, united by friendship, mutual respect and a shared commitment to contributing positively to society.
According to him, the club’s philosophy is reflected in its name, which represents the need to build bridges across differences, connect people and promote understanding.
Mustapha, who was concluding nine years as president of the club, said leadership should be measured by the relationships built, institutions strengthened and opportunities created for others.
He expressed appreciation to members who supported his administration and urged them to sustain the values of camaraderie, tolerance, generosity and mutual respect.
He said the greatest legacy of the organisation should be a united family and a community capable of making meaningful contributions to society.
The event attracted professionals, members of the diplomatic community, business leaders, public servants and other distinguished guests.
