Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has reaffirmed the country’s commitment to a foreign policy driven by national interest, strategic autonomy, reciprocity and partnerships that deliver tangible benefits to Nigerians.
Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu said this in Abuja at her first formal briefing with members of the Diplomatic Corps since assuming office as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
She said the foreign policy direction of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration was anchored on the Four Ds: Demography, Development, Democracy and Diaspora, with Nigerians placed at the centre of the country’s international engagement.
According to her, the policy seeks to harness Nigeria’s youthful population through education, technology, innovation, entrepreneurship and skills development, while making economic diplomacy a key driver of international relations.
“Democracy reflects our commitment to constitutional governance, strong institutions and the peaceful resolution of political differences, while Diaspora recognises Nigerians abroad as important partners in investment, knowledge transfer and national development,” she said.
She said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recognised that Nigeria’s position as Africa’s largest democracy meant that developments in the country could have regional and international implications.
She further cautioned foreign diplomats in Nigeria against making unguarded comments on the country’s 2027 general elections, urging them to respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and democratic processes.
“Also, as the 2027 general elections draw near, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would request that missions remain guided. Recognising the fact that Nigeria is the largest democracy in Africa, and that developments in Nigeria have regional and international complications and implications, we would not look kindly upon unguarded comments, disparaging remarks, or unsolicited lectures on democracy.”
According to her, the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remained committed to democracy and to delivering an election that would be “peaceful, free, fair, and credible in all ramifications.”
Strategic Autonomy
The minister described Nigeria’s approach as “Nigeria-centred, Africa-conscious and globally engaged,” stressing that the country would continue to strengthen relations with its neighbours, ECOWAS and the wider African continent while engaging constructively with the international community.
“The true measure of our relationships will not be the number of meetings we hold or communiqués we issue. It will be the progress we achieve for our people, the investments we facilitate, the opportunities we create, the challenges we resolve and the friendships we strengthen,” she said.
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Also, she said Nigeria would maintain strategic autonomy, explaining that the policy was not synonymous with isolation.
“Strategic autonomy does not mean isolation; it means preserving Nigeria’s sovereign right to determine the relationships and positions that best serve our people,” she said.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu called for diplomatic relations to produce concrete economic and developmental outcomes, announcing renewed attention to dormant Joint Commissions and Bi-national Commissions.
According to her, the Ministry would work with diplomatic missions to revive the mechanisms and use them to expand cooperation in trade, investment, security, education, technology, health and agriculture.
“Ultimately, the strength of our diplomatic relationships should be measured not only by the warmth of our engagements, but by the tangible benefits they produce for our respective peoples,” she said.
The Foreign Affairs Minister also reminded foreign missions that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs remained the official channel of communication between diplomatic missions and the Federal Government, urging missions to route official communications and requests to the Presidency, ministries, departments and agencies through the Ministry, saying this would ensure coordination and effective follow-up.
“The Ministry is not an obstacle between you and the Nigerian Government; we are your bridge to the Nigerian Government,” she said.
She appealed for reciprocity, noting that Nigerian missions abroad were similarly expected to respect the established diplomatic channels of their host governments.
Speaking on Visa, consular concerns, the minister acknowledged the need for greater efficiency within the Ministry, particularly in handling diplomatic correspondence, authentication and legalisation requests.
She also appealed to foreign missions to review visa processes for Nigerian applicants, especially where lengthy waiting periods affect legitimate travellers, students, business people and families.
“While we fully respect the sovereign right of every country to determine its visa policy, excessively long waiting periods can create considerable difficulties. I therefore call for greater efficiency, transparency and responsiveness wherever possible”,
she said.
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Odumegwu-Ojukwu further assured the Diplomatic Corps that the safety and wellbeing of foreign diplomats remained a priority, noting Nigeria’s obligations under the Vienna Conventions.
“I encourage missions to promptly report security concerns to the Ministry for appropriate action”, she said.
Cultural Diplomacy
The minister also highlighted cultural diplomacy as an important tool for strengthening international relations, citing the Ministry’s Diplomatic Bazaar as an example of how cultural exchange could deepen understanding between countries.
She stressed Nigeria’s readiness to cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, technology and knowledge transfer, but stressed that such partnerships must be based on sovereign equality and mutual respect.
“Nigeria is open to trade, investment, tourism, technology, knowledge and meaningful partnerships. At the heart of these engagements must be reciprocity, sovereign equality and mutual respect,” she said.
She reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to dialogue, multilateralism and peaceful resolution of disputes, as well as active participation in ECOWAS, the African Union, the United Nations, the Commonwealth and other international institutions.
The minister added that Nigeria would continue to advocate a stronger African voice in global decision-making. Calling for closer engagement between the Ministry and the Diplomatic Corps.
“The true measure of our relationships will not be the number of meetings we hold or communiqués we issue. It will be the progress we achieve for our peoples, the investments we facilitate, the opportunities we create, the challenges we resolve and the friendships we strengthen,” she added.
The meeting was a direct invitation to
the Diplomatic Corps, to deepen engagements and a commitment that diplomacy must ultimately translate into investment, opportunity and tangible gains for all people.
