ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, has stated that Nigeria must achieve economic resilience, security and stability before it can effectively reclaim its leadership role in Africa and expand its influence on the global stage.
Speaking at the unveiling of “Shadows of Power,” a book written by retired Rear Admiral Sola Oluwagbire in Abuja on Thursday, the minister said the reforms being implemented by President Bola Tinubu are designed to strengthen the country’s internal foundations as a basis for a more robust foreign policy.
“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 noted that while Nigeria remains committed to its historic role on the African continent, domestic stability and prosperity must take precedence.
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“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.
According to him, the country’s foreign policy is now guided by a “Nigeria First” doctrine that prioritises the interests of Nigerians in all diplomatic engagements.
“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 explained that the current administration has redefined the pillars of foreign policy to focus on citizens’ welfare, security and economic growth.
“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 said Nigeria and its neighbouring countries have been identified as the immediate focus of diplomatic engagement, noting that the country’s security, development and prosperity are closely connected to those of the sub-region.
“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 stressed that the government was not abandoning Africa as the centrepiece of Nigeria’s foreign policy but was adjusting its priorities to ensure domestic concerns receive adequate attention.
“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.
Speaking on Nigeria’s relationship with major global powers, Enikanolaiye said the country would continue to pursue strategic autonomy by aligning international engagements with national interests rather than ideology.
“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 both Western and non-Western countries, including China, Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Brazil.
“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 administration’s renewed security and defence cooperation with the United States and other Western allies, describing it as a continuation of longstanding relationships adapted to current security realities.
“What has happened is a reinvigoration of those partnerships in a manner that addresses our current domestic security challenges,” he said.
He further argued that domestic policies cannot succeed without taking international considerations into account.
“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.
Enikanolaiye expressed confidence that Nigeria remains on the right path despite concerns about a decline in its global visibility.
“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 added that efforts are ongoing to strengthen the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through reforms centred on capacity building, professionalism, institutional development and merit-based appointments.
“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 also called for closer collaboration between diplomatic and defence institutions to advance Nigeria’s foreign policy and security objectives.
“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 at the event, the author said the book was inspired by research into the impact of major global powers on Nigeria’s national security and foreign relations.
“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.
On the lessons from the book, he said countries must recognise that every nation acts in its own interest while developing the capacity to project influence beyond its immediate region.
“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 historically maintained a leadership position in Africa through its contributions to peacekeeping operations, regional integration efforts and liberation movements.
However, concerns have intensified in recent years over the country’s diminishing influence amid persistent economic and security challenges.