Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has officially declared his intention to contest the Bauchi State governorship in the 2027 general elections and unveiled a 10-point development agenda as his blueprint for the state.
Tuggar made the announcement on Saturday in Bauchi before thousands of supporters. His agenda focuses on agriculture, security, youth and women empowerment, economic growth, poverty eradication, education, healthcare, civil service reform, and the fight against corruption.
The former minister thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing him to the federal cabinet, saying the role had deepened his understanding of governance and better prepared him to serve Bauchi. He confirmed that he had resigned from his position in line with directives for political appointees seeking elective office.
“2027 must be about competence, clarity, integrity, and capacity,” Tuggar said. “It must be about leadership that understands governance, confronts reality, and delivers measurable development. I am prepared for that responsibility. I urge my supporters to go and get your voter’s card ready.”
Tuggar, a former Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, said Bauchi stands at a crossroads. “Despite our abundant resources, many people remain poor and lack access to quality education and healthcare. This threatens future generations and demands urgent, competent leadership,” he stated.
Drawing on his background in business and farming, Tuggar said he understands the challenges facing entrepreneurs, farmers, and livestock owners. He also cited his years in opposition politics as having taught him resilience and given him firsthand insight into governance issues, including the importance of timely salary payments.
He pledged to build on the achievements of past administrations while correcting previous mistakes. Agriculture, rural development, and economic expansion will be central to his administration, he said, with planned investments in farming, livestock, agro-processing, rural roads, and storage systems to make agriculture more profitable.
“We will support farmers with incentives and improve our weekly markets, which sustain millions of livelihoods across the state,” he added.
On security, Tuggar expressed concern over rising insecurity and promised to tackle it through community policing, dialogue, and stronger collaboration with traditional institutions. “No farmer should fear going to the farm, no businessperson should fear traveling on our roads, and no child should be afraid to go to school,” he said.
He also outlined plans to expand opportunities for youths through education reform, digital learning, entrepreneurship support, and technology hubs, while addressing Bauchi’s high rate of out-of-school children.
In healthcare, Tuggar pledged to improve maternal and child health services, expand care for the elderly and vulnerable groups, and strengthen public hospitals. He promised civil service reforms, including housing support for workers and anti-corruption measures grounded in fairness and accountability, alongside efforts to promote religious harmony and social cohesion.
The aspirant also committed to urban renewal, clean energy expansion, women empowerment, protection of minority rights, and the development of Bauchi’s solid mineral resources.
“This is not just my ambition; it is our collective vision for a better Bauchi State,” Tuggar declared.
Tuggar was elected in 2007 to represent Gamawa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). He contested the Bauchi governorship in 2011 under the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) but lost to then-PDP candidate Isa Yuguda.
