Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Hon Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, and British broadcaster Piers Morgan have become embroiled in a public exchange on X following an appearance by the minister on Piers Morgan Uncensored, sparking fresh debate about how Nigeria is represented in international media..
The spat began on Wednesday when Tuggar posted a statement announcing that he had appeared on Morgan’s programme to address what he described as “misleading narratives and allegations of religious persecution in Nigeria”. He said his explanations were backed by “verifiable data” and insisted the full interview must be aired “exactly as recorded, without edits or selective omissions”. For Tuggar, ensuring transparency was essential because, as he wrote, “Nigeria’s truth must not be distorted to fit external biases”.
Responding on Thursday, Morgan addressed Tuggar directly on X, saying:
“You seem to be panicking, Foreign Minister. Rest assured, we will air your comments in full, the show is called Uncensored for a reason. Whether people believe what you said remains to be seen.”
The post, which quickly gained traction online but not long after, Tuggar replied in a calm but pointed tone, saying:
“I am as cool as a cucumber Mr Morgan. And if I wasn’t more equable I would say you are flattering yourself, but I won’t. Just want to make sure you don’t edit out the parts where you kept referring to the “Chibok Boys”! Well researched.”
The exchange adds a new twist to the controversy surrounding Nigeria’s representation on international platforms, particularly in discussions about governance and religious freedom.
While the full interview is yet to be released on Piers Morgan Uncensored’s official channels, both sides have drawn significant public attention ahead of its broadcast.
Ademide Adebayo
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