The Federal Government has said its foreign policy under President Bola Tinubu is now firmly anchored on a “Nigeria First” doctrine, with every diplomatic engagement expected to advance the country’s security, economic prosperity and national interests.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, made the disclosure on Thursday in Abuja during the launch of Shadows of Power, a book authored by retired Rear Admiral Sola Oluwagbire.
According to the minister, the administration has redefined Nigeria’s foreign policy priorities to place citizens at the centre of all international engagements.
“The motto of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is actually ‘Nigeria First’. Every foreign policy action we take must speak to Nigeria,” he said.
Enikanolaiye explained that the government’s diplomatic strategy is designed to ensure that international relations directly support the welfare, security and economic development of Nigerians.
“We are locating Nigeria and Nigerians at the core of foreign policy preoccupations so that our national interest that advances our security, our defence and our economic prosperity are the core of Nigerian foreign policy,” he stated.
The minister said Nigeria would continue to pursue strategic autonomy in its dealings with foreign nations, insisting that the country’s interests would remain the deciding factor in international partnerships.
“What is strategic autonomy? Simply put, it means alignment to our national interest. Therefore, wherever the wind blows, that’s where we go in pursuit of Nigeria’s interest,” he said.
He stressed that Nigeria remains open to cooperation with countries across different geopolitical blocs, including Western nations as well as China, Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Brazil.
“We may have tilted a little to the West, but we have not abandoned our traditional partners. All of them remain important partners in Nigerian foreign policy,” he said.
The minister also revealed that Nigeria’s immediate neighbours have become a major focus of the government’s diplomatic efforts because regional stability directly affects the country’s prosperity and security.
“Our neighbours, our security, prosperity and development are intrinsically linked to those of our neighbours. If they are not secure, it has implications for us,” he said.
READ ALSO: Nigeria’s foreign policy targets permanent seat in UN Security Council – FG
According to Enikanolaiye, the government has chosen to prioritise engagement within its immediate region before expanding its focus to the broader African continent.
“We have decided to reprioritise that region before we move further to Africa without necessarily jettisoning Africa as the cornerstone of our foreign policy,” he said.
He argued that strong domestic foundations are necessary for Nigeria to play a more influential role internationally.
“You cannot have a dynamic and activist foreign policy if the home is weak, if the country is disunited, if there is no harmony in Nigeria. How can you go outside and be taken seriously?” he said.
The minister maintained that economic reforms and security measures introduced by the Tinubu administration are intended to strengthen Nigeria internally and enhance its standing abroad.
“The truth of the matter is that no aspect of Nigerian domestic policy can succeed unless you identify the external components of those policies and pursue them equally,” he said.
Enikanolaiye also expressed confidence that Nigeria’s international profile would continue to improve despite concerns that its influence has declined in recent years.
“Nigeria is still very much on course. Our visibility may have dimmed a little, but we’re trying to bring that back,” he said.
He added that reforms are underway within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to improve professionalism, institutional efficiency and capacity building.
“We are trying to rebuild the institution in terms of capacity building, systems and processes in a manner that instils confidence, morale and professionalism into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” he said.
The minister further called for closer coordination between diplomacy and defence in pursuing Nigeria’s national objectives.
“Foreign policy is very critical. It is the flip side of defence policy, and both of them must be pursued in a coordinated manner so that our country can be better secured, prosperous and have a better future,” he added.