Changes imminent in Nigeria’s foreign policy – NASS

Africa, as the centrepiece of Nigeria’s foreign policy, may be on the brink of change, with the National Assembly hinting at imminent restructuring to align it with global best practices.

In this regard, the chairmen of both the Senate and House of Representatives committees on Foreign Affairs, Senator Abubakar Bello and Hon. Abdulmumini Jibrin, respectively, met with President Bola Tinubu on Friday to discuss the way forward toward a clearer policy.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting at the presidential villa in Abuja, Bello affirmed that the nation would soon witness changes in foreign policy as efforts would be made to improve it.

He pointed out that the president has already taken steps to ensure that.

Bello, the immediate past governor of Niger State, stated: “Essentially, we discussed our foreign policies and how to improve and have a robust, clear foreign policy for the understanding of everyone and for the benefit of Nigerians and Nigeria as a country.

“We strongly believe that necessary steps must be taken to improve the image of Nigeria and Nigerians internationally. And I am glad Mr. President has taken bold steps towards ensuring that.

“So, going forward in the next coming months, hopefully, we’ll start seeing some changes with regards to our foreign policies that will be clear and well understood by all concerned to ensure that Nigeria and Nigerians are given the right place in the international scene.

“So, essentially, without wasting time, that is the reason we saw Mr. President today, and I think we had a very good meeting. And we agreed to join hands between the executive arm and the legislative arm to work together towards achieving these goals.”

Speaking specifically on how the changes will affect Africa as the centrepiece, Bello added: “You know, as I said, Mr President is very much interested in changing the dynamics of our foreign policy, which has been, if you may call it, for a while now, obsolete. There hasn’t been any major review in foreign policies.

“The time has come now to take the bold step towards working out some of our foreign policies to have them in line with best practices and international standards.

“So, yes, I believe going forward, we’re going to be working very hard with the executive arm to look at all our previous agreements and treaties or what have you, to see those ones that need to be amended or those that need to be implemented.

“So yes, there’s a lot of work to be done. And by God’s ways, I think we’ll sail through.”

Corroborating the Senate committee chairman, Jibrin, in his remarks, said they advised the president on how to improve the policy.

He explained: “Building from where my colleague stopped, we commended the President for his very articulate and dynamic foreign policy captured in the four Ds – democracy, development, demography, and of course, diaspora.

“Everybody who is a follower of International Relations and foreign policy will agree that it’s a well-articulated foreign policy. And we assured him of all the necessary support from the National Assembly and gave some advice on one or two things, how things can be improved, which of course, my colleague has already delved into that.”

The Kano State legislator said he used the opportunity of the meeting with the president to discuss the political crisis in his state arising from the last gubernatorial tussle, hoping that it can be amicably resolved even before the final determination by the court.

Jibrin said: “But of course, you know, he’s my baba, everybody knows my relationship with him. There’s no how I will come here without also discussing politics.

“So, I also had my own chat with him and particularly on how to ensure that we continue to have peace and harmony in Kano and also proffer some recommendations in that regard. Hopefully, we believe that the burning crisis in Kano as regards the governorship seat will be resolved amicably without prejudice to the cases that are in court.”

He stressed that the President is interested in the peaceful resolution of the crisis, noting that the stakeholders will support him to achieve it.

“Well, of course, you know, the President, what he wants is peace, and he will continue to support and encourage peace,” he said.