The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, has said Nigeria’s quest to regain its traditional leadership role in Africa and strengthen its voice on the global stage depends largely on resolving domestic economic, security and governance challenges.
Speaking in Abuja on Thursday during the launch of Shadows of Power, a book written by retired Rear Admiral Sola Oluwagbire, the minister argued that a strong and effective foreign policy can only be built on a foundation of national stability and unity.
According to him, the ongoing reforms being implemented by President Bola Tinubu are designed to strengthen Nigeria internally and position the country for greater diplomatic relevance 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.
Enikanolaiye explained that although Nigeria remains committed to its longstanding role in African affairs, domestic security and prosperity must take precedence.
“We believe that these objectives are mutually reinforcing. Nigeria has to be secure, we have to be stable before we can even play that activist role in foreign policy that traditionally we regarded as having played in the liberation struggle and other continental engagements,” he said.
The minister noted that the Federal Government has adopted a foreign policy framework anchored on national interest, with the welfare of Nigerians serving as its central focus.
“The motto of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is actually ‘Nigeria First’. Every foreign policy action we take must speak to Nigeria,” he said.
He stated that the administration has restructured its diplomatic priorities to ensure that issues relating to national security, economic growth and citizens’ welfare remain at the forefront of engagement with other countries.
“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 also identified Nigeria’s immediate neighbourhood as a key strategic priority, stressing that events in neighbouring countries directly affect the nation’s stability and development.
“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.
He clarified that the renewed focus on Nigeria’s immediate region does not amount to a departure from Africa-centred diplomacy but rather a recalibration of priorities.
“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.
On relations with major world powers, Enikanolaiye said Nigeria would continue to pursue a policy of strategic independence, ensuring that all international partnerships are guided by national interests.
“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 added that Nigeria remains open to cooperation with a wide range of global partners, including countries in both the Western and Eastern blocs.
“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 defended the government’s renewed engagement with the United States and other Western nations on security matters, describing the move as an evolution of existing partnerships rather than a shift in policy direction.
“What has happened is a reinvigoration of those partnerships in a manner that addresses our current domestic security challenges,” he said.
Highlighting the relationship between domestic governance and international engagement, Enikanolaiye argued that no national policy can achieve its objectives without considering external factors.
“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.
Despite concerns in some quarters that Nigeria’s global influence has waned in recent years, the minister expressed optimism that the country is steadily rebuilding its diplomatic standing.
“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 revealed that reforms are ongoing within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to improve efficiency, professionalism and institutional capacity.
“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 advocated stronger collaboration between the country’s diplomatic and defence establishments, describing both as critical pillars of national development and security.
“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.
Speaking on his newly launched book, retired Rear Admiral Oluwagbire said the publication emerged from his study of how relationships with major global powers have influenced Nigeria’s security environment over the years.
“It was based on my research on how the major powers have influenced Nigeria’s national security, and how our relationship with them has influenced Nigeria’s national security,” the author said.
He noted that one of the key messages of the book is the importance of understanding how nations pursue their interests while developing the capacity to exert influence internationally.
“All nations have their own interests at heart, but they are to have the ability and the power to become not only a regional authority, but an influencer of activities on the world stage,” the author said. “That’s the major lesson — that we can do it.”
Nigeria has long been regarded as one of Africa’s leading diplomatic powers, playing prominent roles in peacekeeping operations, regional integration efforts and anti-colonial struggles. However, economic pressures and persistent security challenges have fuelled concerns about a decline in the country’s influence, a trend government officials say ongoing reforms are intended to reverse.
(Ripples)