Tuggar condemns anti-African sentiments in South Africa

At The Bridge Club's 2026 end-of-year event in Lagos, Tuggar, who chaired the occasion, discussed the increasing discrimination and anti-migrant sentiments faced by Africans, particularly in South Africa. He expressed disappointment that Nigerians and other black Africans are being targeted in a nation that benefited from Nigeria's significant sacrifices during the struggle against apartheid.

Tuggar recalled Nigeria's historical support, including scholarships for South African students and the establishment of the South African Relief Fund. He described the current hostility as Afrophobia, distinguishing it from xenophobia, and cautioned against using historical context as justification for discrimination.

Tuggar traced the roots of segregation in Africa to colonial policies that created divisions among ethnic groups, which continue to affect relationships today. He also warned that Africa's failure to translate political liberation into economic cooperation undermines development, advocating for prioritization of manufacturing and regional trade over raw material exports.