The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, on Wednesday, 3rd December 2025, received Ambassador Uzo Nwobu, former Nigerian Ambassador to Mozambique, who led a delegation to formally convey the gratitude of the family of the late Air Vice Marshal Osy Obierika.
Ambassador Nwobu, accompanied by Barrister Chuma Mbonu, informed the Minister that the family deemed it necessary to personally appreciate his timely humanitarian intervention following the sudden passing of AVM Obierika aboard a British Airways flight diverted to Spain in October 2025.
Delivering the family’s message, Barrister Mbonu said the Honourable Minister’s swift action ensured that Mrs. Uchenna Obierika, who initially faced denial of entry into Spain, was immediately granted the required visa and assisted by Nigerian consular officials upon her arrival.
He explained that Tuggar’s intervention came at a moment of deep anguish for the widow, who had just been informed that her husband’s remains had been removed from the aircraft. The Minister’s response, he noted, significantly eased her distress and provided much-needed support at a time of overwhelming grief.
Mbonu stressed that the Minister’s gesture “went far beyond routine official responsibility,” describing it as an act of true compassion that reflected the values of solidarity and empathy Nigerians extend to one another both at home and abroad.
In his remarks, Ambassador Tuggar thanked the delegation for the family’s kind words and stated that assisting a Nigerian in such tragic circumstances was not just a duty of office but a moral obligation. He reaffirmed the Ministry’s unwavering commitment to the welfare and dignity of Nigerians facing challenges anywhere in the world.
The Obierika family, through the delegation, expressed enduring gratitude for the Minister’s empathetic, prompt, and impactful intervention, which they said brought comfort during one of the most painful moments of their lives.
