A prominent diaspora group, Zumunta Association USA Incorporated, has refuted comments allegedly made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, describing the association as a “divisive group.”
The rebuttal came through a detailed statement issued by the association’s president, Sunday Bitrus, who described the minister’s remark as “a serious misrepresentation” that undermines the group’s decades-long commitment to unity, humanitarian outreach, and nation-building.
Bitrus’ reaction followed Tuggar’s comments during the launch of the Diaspora Bridge initiative held at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja on July 28, 2025.
He said the Minister’s statement shocked many members of the Nigerian diaspora.
“On July 28, 2025, during the launch of the Diaspora Bridge initiative at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja, the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar made an unfortunate remark that has left many in the diaspora shocked and deeply disappointed.
“Referring to the Zumunta Association USA Inc. as a ‘divisive group’ was not just a factual inaccuracy. It was a serious misrepresentation that threatens to undermine decades of progress, peace-building, and unity fostered by one of the oldest and most respected Nigerian diaspora organisations in the United States. It is not just regrettable. it is wrong.”
“From our humble beginnings, we have grown into a non-partisan, non-religious, and professionally diverse network of Nigerians living across the United States. Our association draws membership from all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, representing a spectrum of backgrounds: professionals, entrepreneurs, public servants, students, and retired elders alike.
“Zumunta is not a Northern Nigerian association. It is a national Nigerian diaspora movement and one that has matured into a symbol of cohesion, identity, and service for Nigerians abroad. Ask about our partnership and collaboration with Nigerians In Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA), Egbe Omo Oduduwa, Ndi Igbo, Nasarawa Diaspora, Nasarawa State Government, Minnesota State Government, Ambassador of US to Nigeria, etc.”
The group highlighted its consistent efforts over the past three decades in promoting education, healthcare, civic advocacy, and cultural engagement between the diaspora and Nigeria.
“In the last three decades, Zumunta has consistently acted as a bridge between Nigerians in the diaspora and our homeland. We have championed cultural preservation, promoted responsible civic engagement, invested in education and healthcare back home, and advocated on behalf of Nigerians abroad who are often marginalised or ignored by official channels.”
Bitrus expressed concern that such an organisation could be casually dismissed as divisive, warning that public statements like Tuggar’s could discourage constructive engagement from patriotic Nigerians living abroad.
“The Honourable Minister’s comments seem to reflect a deeper discomfort with diaspora groups who are organised, visible, and vocal. Unfortunately, that discomfort does not justify misrepresentation.
“The truth is that many of our embassies and consulates, while staffed by dedicated officials, simply do not have the capacity, infrastructure, or strategic direction to meet the full range of diaspora needs. Instead of recognising this reality and working with established community organisations like ours to close these gaps, the ministry too often defaults to defensiveness.”
He cited Zumunta’s years-long push for a Nigerian Consulate on the U.S. West Coast as a missed opportunity, noting that their proposals have gone unanswered despite obvious logistical and diplomatic needs.
“Let’s consider a practical example: For years, Zumunta Association has advocated for the reopening of a Nigerian Consulate on the West Coast of the United States, home to a rapidly growing population of Nigerian professionals, students, and entrepreneurs. Despite multiple proposals, formal letters, and stakeholder meetings, this call has gone unanswered.
“Today, consular services for West Coast Nigerians are offered through temporary ‘passport intervention’ drives-sparse, uncoordinated, and insufficient. Community members spend thousands of dollars to travel across states, miss work, and stand in long queues for basic services like passport renewals or document authentication.
“We ask respectfully: If addressing this is not within the purview of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then whose responsibility is it? And when organisations like ours step up to fill these institutional voids, should we be punished with labels like ‘divisive’ for doing what the government itself has failed to do?”
Calling for a reset in the government’s approach to diaspora relations, Bitrus urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to align its actions with the stated goals of the Diaspora Bridge initiative and engage diaspora organisations with respect and fairness.
“Diaspora organisations are not threats. We are partners. We are citizens. We are families sending remittances, professionals attracting foreign investments, and ambassadors building goodwill in every country we live.
“To treat us as outsiders or ‘divisive’ simply because we are organised is short-sighted and counterproductive. We remain open to dialogue. But it must be a dialogue of equals, not one where diaspora voices are invited for show and dismissed when they speak truth.
“Zumunta Association USA Inc. has always stood for unity, peace, and progress. We will not be distracted by mischaracterisations. We will not be provoked into division. And we will not stop working for the Nigeria we believe in. A Nigeria that values all her children, everywhere.
“So let the record be clear: Zumunta is not divisive. We are living proof that Nigerians from every walk of life can come together to serve, build, and lead, no matter where in the world they are,” he declared.
