Nigeria criticizes the West. Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Trade with African countries is not a game of Minecraft

Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, said on Wednesday that highly developed countries should not treat trade in natural resources with African countries like a game of Minecraft. The Nigerian minister assured that his country has ways to counter the tariffs imposed by the United States.

– It is important that both the global North and developed countries do not use a Minecraft-based approach in relations with Africa, Tuggar emphasized during the Reuters NEXT Gulf conference held in the United Arab Emirates.

He emphasized that in trade relations with African countries rich in raw materials, rich countries should not limit themselves solely to “securing the supply of natural resources, but rather treat them as relationships based on mutual respect and the need for Africa's development.”

– If mutual relations do not move in this direction, we will still have to face illegal migration and many other challenges – said the head of Nigerian diplomacy.

The popular computer game Minecraft involves exploring and developing a virtual world in which you extract raw materials, produce items, and also fight opponents.

US tariffs noticeable but not too painful

Tuggar added that Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa and one of the most important producers of oil and natural gas, was not too badly affected by the sanctions imposed by US President Donald Trump. He recalled that Nigerian exports were subject to a 15 percent rate.

– We are a very large country with a population of 230 million inhabitants, so we have a huge internal market. This also means that we have a greater talent pool than other countries, he said.

Tuggar added that Nigeria's trade relations are “not based on ideological considerations but on interests.”

– So we trade with the United States, with China, with Brazil, with India. And we do not necessarily focus on one axis or the other, especially in a multipolar world, emphasized the Nigerian minister. (PAP)

piu/kar/