Foreign Policy is Projection of Domestic Policy, Grassroots Governance Key to Nigeria’s Global Standing- Enikanolaiye

PRESS RELEASE

Foreign Policy is Projection of Domestic Policy, Grassroots Governance Key to Nigeria’s Global Standing- Enikanolaiye

The Honourable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, says grassroots development and mobilization are central to Nigeria’s foreign policy projection and international image.

Amb. Enikanolaiye stated this on Tuesday in Abuja at the 2026 Maiden National Conference of the 774 Local Government Chairmen and Chairmen of Traditional Rulers’ Councils, held at the State House Banquet Hall.

The conference, convened by the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Government Affairs, was themed “Cascading President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to the Grassroots.”

Delivering his goodwill message, the Minister said: “For us in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we believe that every aspect of our government policy at home has implications for foreign policy and Nigeria’s international relations. Which is why we are interested in everything that goes on domestically because foreign policy is also a projection of domestic policy. And in this context, grassroots mobilization and development is critical to what we do abroad.”

He said inclusive governance must be bottom-up, not top-down, noting that traditional rulers remain a critical component of Nigeria’s governance architecture. He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for approving the historic conference and for anchoring the roles of LGAs and traditional rulers in the ongoing constitutional amendment.

Situating his remarks within President Tinubu’s 4-D Doctrine, the Minister said the Renewed Hope Agenda lives or dies at the grassroots.

On Demography, Nigeria’s youth in the 774 LGAs is our greatest global asset – empower the LGAs, convert numbers to power.

On Development, a $1 trillion economy is impossible without productive LGAs. With agriculture booming, 44+ minerals across 500 sites, and massive infrastructure like the Lagos-Calabar and Sokoto-Badagry highways, grassroots stability is what attracts FDI.

Speaking On Democracy, empowering LGAs and traditional rulers proves Nigeria practises real, bottom-up democracy.

On Diaspora, when home is secure and working, the Diaspora will invest and sell the Nigerian story with confidence.

He said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will drive the foreign policy components through investment matchmaking via Nigeria’s 110 missions abroad, partnerships with friends of Nigeria, and leveraging traditional rulers’ community intelligence for national security.

In goodwill remarks, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Olumuyiwa Enitan Abel, represented by Dr. Vitalis Obi, said local governments are closest to the people and central to service delivery, while traditional rulers are vital for peacebuilding. He reaffirmed the civil service’s commitment to accountability and measurable results.

Earlier, Permanent Secretary, Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Dr. Onwusoro Maduka Ihemelandu, said government lacked timely, verifiable data on LGA interventions and has developed an E-Tracking Framework to track project location, value, timeline and verification status.

Signed:
Raphael Oni
Special Assistant, Digital Media and Public Diplomacy
Office of the Honourable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
22nd September,2026