As many challenges dominate President Bola Tinubu’s attention in the first 100 days of his administration, he is also mindful of the direction of the country’s foreign policy and its relations with the rest of the world. Assistant Editor BOLA OLAJUWON writes on the administration’s international posturing so far.
Right from independence, Nigeria has an ambitious foreign policy. This is not, however, well defined and consistent with national interests. Hence, national interest becomes different strokes for different leaders at the helms of affairs.
But, under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, Nigeria’s interests have been largely determined and defined by what the administration touted as national interests and refocus of the country’s African-centric foreign policy through actions and deeds to match commitments.
Nexus between domestic and foreign policies
Tinubu, after being sworn in as Nigeria’s 16th president, and right from the podium, while delivering his inaugural speech, sent a message to the nation and the world that it would not be business as usual. He emphasised that he was ready for business.
Knowing that domestic issues could not be divorced from foreign policy, he tackled frontally the thorny issue of petrol subsidy, declaring: ”Fuel subsidy is gone”. He also took the decision to unify the foreign exchange rates, steered the economy towards growth. Some of his policies have been welcomed and have excited the local and international financial markets and investors, they have also being greeted with attendant challenges of inflation and increased poverty.
However, the international community have seen a departure from what they had witnessed in the past, thus according the economy the required credibility and renewed faith of international financial operators, rating agencies and markets. At least, this is a departure from Father Christmas of the past administrations.
Despite the hardships, he has reined in the two labour bodies – the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) – promising palliatives and salary increases for workers.
He suspended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele; Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa; sacked the governing boards of federal government parastatals, agencies, institutions and government-owned companies.
He assented to the electricity bill, authorising states, companies and individuals to generate, transmit and distribute electricity.
Despite saving N2 trillion from subsidy payment removal, he has approved palliatives to states to ease the pains being suffered by Nigerians.
Tinubu’s tough stance on local issues is not in isolation of foreign policy. At least, he sent a message to the international community on his readiness to instill confidence in the fiscal policy and national economy.
After standing on assertive pedestal, President Tinubu joined other world leaders at a State Banquet hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, in June as part of the activities lined up for the New Global Financing Pact summit.
After the event, the President on his Facebook page shared how much he relished the moments shared with other world leaders, including the chief host and his wife.
“I had a great time with other Heads of State and important dignitaries at the State Banquet hosted by President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, France, this evening,” Tinubu said.
Read Also: I will not fail Nigerians – Tinubu
Tinubu said Nigeria would sustain its spotlight on African countries as the fulcrum of its economy and foreign affairs policies, ensuring that trade issues, security and border controls will be implemented.
Receiving the President of Benin Republic, Patrice Talon, after the Summit on New Global Financing Pact, Tinubu noted that bilateral relations with African countries, particularly at the sub-regional level, would be enhanced for shared benefits in the areas of security, health, energy, education and diplomacy.
“We are ready to improve relations. Africa has been the centrepiece of Nigeria’s foreign policy,” he said.
“I believe in Africa. We have the necessity to grow the continent. The world’s economy is wobbling, and Africa has been left behind. On risk factors, Africa is always placed high, with higher interest rates on borrowing. We are always classified as high-risk. We must work together for systematic recovery and growth,” he added.
Tinubu described Nigeria’s relations with Benin as that of Siamese twins, joined at the hips, and supported by other friendly countries. He also had bilateral meetings with Swiss President Alain Berset and the African Development Bank (AfDB) President, Akinwunmi Adesina.
ECOWAS and the new bite
Since 2020, coupists have removed elected governments in Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea, Mali, and Sudan with little actions from the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). However, the coups in Niger Republic and the latest in Gabon have raised serious concerns about regional stability and democratic principles in West Africa and the continent.
The scenarios are against Tinubu’s statement in early July while accepting the ECOWAS chairmanship, when he said: “We must stand firm on democracy. Without democracy, there is no governance, there is no freedom, and there is no rule of law. We will not allow coup after coup in West Africa.”
But, the President did not expect to be plunged into handling a crisis in neighbouring Niger. On July 26, Nigerien soldiers carried out a coup and removed President Mohamed Bazoum.
Tinubu immediately issued a strongly worded statement denouncing the coup before sending Beninese President Patrice Talon as the bloc’s mediator. But, the later was refused audience by the junta. A former military head of state, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar and Sultan of Sokoto Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar were later sent to Niamey as part of the mediation. After the junta installed army Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani as head of state, Tinubu called an emergency summit of ECOWAS leaders to discuss a response.
Why some Nigerians, especially people in the North, against ECOWAS’s resolve to intervene militarily in Niger, the members of the sub-region – except Burkina Faso and Mali -, the AU, the United Nations, European countries and the United States have backed Tinubu’s and ECOWAS’ actions.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Pierre James Trudeau, Macron, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and others have also called to praise Tinubu on the Niger and Gabon issues.
With military intervention not yet in motion and coupled with Gabon coup, analysts are watching what will become of Nigeria’s new posturing over the coup issues.
Nigeria and BRICS
Also recently, the BRICS, a grouping of the world economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, met in South Africa. By next January, two African countries – Egypt, a leading economy and Ethiopia – an emerging economy and second most populous African country – will be joining the BRICS bloc.
Many analysts have questioned Why Nigeria did not join the bloc when more than 40 countries had shown interest in it?
The bloc is home to 42 per cent of the world’s population, almost 30 percent of the world’s territory, around 27 per cent of global GDP and around 20 percent of global trade.
South Africa has reaped from the bloc and has given other African countries reasons to rethink their relationship with the West.
South Africa’s overall trade with its BRICS partners increased by an average growth of 10 per cent from 2017-2021, total trade with BRICS reached R830 billion last year from R487 billion in 2017, with BRICS accounting for 21 per cent of South Africa’s global trade in 2022.
Also, over 14 per cent of South Africa’s exports are to BRICS countries, with about 30 per cent of imports coming from BRICS countries in 2022.
Experts are reasoning that Nigeria must not discountenance the opportunities in BRICS’ membership.
Biden and Angolan invites
President Tinubu recently hosted the United State’ presidential envoy and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Molly Phee, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Phee handed over President Joe Biden’s invite to Tinubu for a meeting during UN General Assembly.
He, however, told his visitor to ensure that U.S. policy is intentionally collaborative to deepen democracy in Africa, at a time when they are under assault by anti-democratic forces within and outside of the continent.
The President noted that American-backed development finance and multilateral institutions, which were designed to support war-torn Europe after World War II, require swift and comprehensive reform to meet the developmental requirements of younger democracies in Africa, which operate in authoritarian-crowded environments.
He declared that such efforts will help to ensure that legitimate yearnings of Africans would no longer be manipulated to serve the narrow aims of self-seeking agitators through unconstitutional takeovers of power.
“Yes, the private sector will lead the way within an enabling environment we create for them, but the U.S. Government must be innovative in its thinking and systematically create incentives for U.S. industrial investment in Nigeria,” he said.
Angolan President João Lourenço has also invited the President to the regular bilateral and multilateral consultations of African leaders aimed at tackling common challenges across the continent. Lourenço stated this in a message through his envoy, Téte António, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Angola, in Abuja.
The message was made available to reporters by the Institutional Communication and Press Services of the Embassy of Angola in Nigeria, Benin and Niger.
”Lourenço is inviting his counterpart Tinubu, to participate in the third edition of the Pan-African Forum for the Culture of Peace and Non-Violence-Luanda Biennial, taking place from Nov. 22 to 24.
”Adopted in 2015 at the 24th Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU), the Biennial of Luanda will take place under the theme ‘Education, culture of peace and African citizenship, as tools for the sustainable development of the continent’.
“It intends to contribute to the implementation of the “Action Plan for a Culture of Peace in Africa, a collaboration between the Government of Angola and UNESCO,” Lourenço said.
Tuggar’s ‘Four Ds’ policy initiative
Recently, the Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that his ministry would be guided by a new ‘Four Ds’ Policy initiative, anchored on “Development, Democracy, Demography and Diaspora geared towards bringing modern solutions to address some complex challenges.
Tuggar, while addressing staff of the ministry when he assumed duty, pledged to unveil a new foreign policy that would reposition Nigeria at the pinnacle of visionary and global decision-making.
The minister spoke in Abuja, on his first day in office, after joining other ministers to take their oath of office at President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet’s inauguration.
Tuggar said the “Four Ds” guiding his Foreign Policy for Nigeria would be “Development, Democracy, Demography, and Diaspora geared towards bringing modern solutions to address some complex challenges. He assured that the ministry will be redesigned to effectively play its roles at the forefront of promoting Nigeria’s interests and protecting citizens abroad.
The minister assured Nigerians in the Diaspora that his administration will strive to address their challenges, adding, “It is the highest honour to be asked to serve as Minister of Foreign Affairs by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“As a historically significant ministry, Foreign Affairs has long represented the highest standard of excellence. It is, therefore, our job to ensure those standards will never fail.
“These are turbulent times. From the unfolding political crises in Niger Republic to the regional and economic insecurity, we have a lot of work to do. In due time, we will unveil a new vision for Nigeria’s foreign policy, Four D’s diplomacy.
“Through this doctrine centred on development, democracy, demography and Diaspora, we hope to find modern solutions to address complex contemporary problems.”
Tinubu’s recall of ambassadors
Few days after unveiling the “Four Ds” guiding his Foreign Policy for Nigeria, Tuggar on Saturday said the President had directed the recall of all ambassadors.
The minister, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Al-Kashim Abdul-Kadir, said the directive applied to career and non-career ambassadors, noting that the envoys were expected in the country at the end of next month.
No fewer than 41 non-career and 42 career ambassadors are expected to return home. But, information on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that Nigeria has a total of 109 Missions, 76 Embassies, 22 High Commissions and 11 Consulates.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari had in January 2021 approved the posting of 95 ambassadors, comprising 43 career and 52 non-career. Prior to the approval, the Senate ratified their nomination in 2020.
The minister, while thanking them for the service they rendered, said he looked forward to welcoming them to Abuja.
But, the Presidency on Saturday night said the country’s United Nations Permanent Representatives in New York and Geneva were exempted from the recall.
According to Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, the exemption was as a result of the upcoming UN General Assembly holding this month.
International affairs experts are wondering whether the recall of ambassadors and Tuggar’s “Four Ds” will have impact on the administration’s foreign policy initiatives. Nigerians in the Diaspora and at home have been clamouring for responsive diplomats abroad to give Nigerians a service delivery at par with other nationalities all over the world. A total of 109 missions, 76 embassies, 22 high commissions and 11 consulates without commensurate services are drain in the national purse. As assured by Tuggar, analysts are watching whether the ministry, high commissions, embassies and missions will be redesigned to effectively play their roles at the forefront of promoting Nigeria’s interests and protecting citizens abroad as the minister assured them that his administration will strive to address their challenges.
The G-20 Summit in India
The icing on the cake for the President as he marks his 100 days in office is the G-20 summit in India. Tinubu is expected to attend thr summit that will be held in New Delhi, between September 9 and 10. Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, announced the development on Friday while speaking to reporters. Ngelale said Tinubu seeks to attract foreign investments to the country during the summit. He added that the president is working to ensure that Nigeria can raise private capital from around the world for the development of its public infrastructure.
At the summit, Tinubu will meet with world leaders and heads of state in addition to industry titans, and chief executive officers of some of the most valuable corporations in thhe world.
He is also expected to host a roundtable meeting during the summit with more than 20 chief executive officers from various economic sectors.
This, he said, is to ensure that Nigeria takes advantage of their interest in investing in the nation in a way that supports the industrialisation, digitalisation, and renewable energy agenda.
Therefore, for Tinubu, the G-20 is an auspicious summit to mark his 100 days and bring home laudable investments and goodwill.
