FG REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO PEOPLE-CENTRED FOREIGN POLICY AND STRATEGIC AUTONOMY

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja

Press Release

No: MFA/PR/2026/168

FG REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO PEOPLE-CENTRED FOREIGN POLICY AND STRATEGIC AUTONOMY

The Honourable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to pursuing a people-centred foreign policy anchored on national interest, economic diplomacy, strategic autonomy, and sustainable development.

The Honourable Minister gave the assurance on Friday, 24 July 2026, while receiving a delegation of the Society for International Relations and Awareness (SIRA), led by its President, Owei Lakemfa, on a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja. The delegation comprised retired diplomats, academics, security experts, and practitioners in international relations.

During the meeting, the Honourable Minister outlined the Ministry’s strategic direction under the Renewed Hope Agenda, stating that Nigeria’s foreign policy is being repositioned to prioritise the welfare and prosperity of Nigerians through four key pillars: Demography, Development, Diaspora, and Democracy. He emphasised that a strong domestic economy remains the foundation of an effective foreign policy and reaffirmed that Nigeria’s diplomatic engagements would continue to be guided by national interest.

Ambassador Enikanolaiye further highlighted ongoing institutional reforms aimed at strengthening professionalism, improving policy coordination, and enhancing the Ministry’s operational effectiveness. He stressed the need for greater collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure coherent implementation of Nigeria’s external relations.

On recent xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa, the Honourable Minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to diplomacy, dialogue and multilateral engagement. He disclosed that the Federal Government had mobilised regional support within ECOWAS to elevate the matter to the African Union while maintaining constructive engagement with the South African Government.

Addressing the concept of Strategic Autonomy, Ambassador Enikanolaiye explained that Nigeria would continue to pursue balanced and pragmatic relations with all partners based on the country’s national interest. He reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to the One China Policy and other longstanding foreign policy positions that promote the country’s unity, sovereignty, and development objectives.

Earlier, the President of SIRA congratulated the Honourable Minister on his appointment as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, describing him as a well-grounded and veteran career diplomat who rose to become Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry and Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Foreign Affairs, which is richly deserved. Speaking further, he noted the fact that whereas the Ministry has contributed a lot to national development in diverse areas, most Nigerians do not realize that some of the developments in the country and the developmental creation of Ministries like Environment and Women Affairs, are products of the international work of the Foreign Ministry. According to him, SIRA was born to fill those gaps and develop an international awareness culture amongst Nigerians.

He therefore pledged the Society’s support for the Ministry’s efforts to promote public understanding of foreign policy through research, advocacy, and strategic engagement. The delegation also commended the Federal Government’s measured diplomatic response to the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa and expressed its readiness to partner with the Ministry in advancing Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives.

The meeting concluded with both parties reaffirming their commitment to strengthening collaboration between government, academia, and civil society in promoting foreign policy awareness, strategic thinking, and effective diplomacy in support of Nigeria’s national development.

Signed:

Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, anipr

Spokesperson

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja

Friday 24, July 2026