The Federal Government has warned State governments against entering foreign negotiations alone without the input of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Following the dispute between Ogun State Government with a Chinese Company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, led to the seizure of three Nigerian presidential jets.
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A statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar stressed that this is part of the problem when sub-national actors like State Governments take upon themselves to go into international agreements without the involvement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Federal Government.
The Minister pointed out when such goes awry, the Ministry is left with such problem to deal with.
Yusuf Tuggar emphasized that foreign negotiations require individuals with expertise and training. Equally, the Minister warned that sub-national actors should not engage in such agreements alone.
The statement recalled that the presidential jets were seized by a French court on August 15, due to a contract dispute between the two parties.
The dispute however 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.
Consequently, Yusuf Tuggar affirmed the importance of registering international engagements with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Embassy, and Federal Government to avoid similar issues in the future.