Politics
DEMOCRACY and development have been the most visible highlights in Nigeria’s 4Ds foreign policy engagements in the 17 months of President Bola Tinubu-led administration, says Prof. Femi Otubanjo.
Otubanjo, a research professor at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.
He, however, noted that 17 months was too short to determine the efficiency of a foreign policy thrust.
NAN recalls that in August 2022, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, announced ‘The Tinubu 4D Doctrine’ anchored on Democracy, Development, Demography and Diaspora.
Otubanjo said that the process was time-consuming and results neither came easily nor quickly, but it was possible to identify milestones and interim advances in the foreign policy journey.
He recalled that democracy loomed large in the foreign policy of Nigeria at Tinubu’s inaugural speech as chairman of ECOWAS at the 63rd Ordinary Summit of the Authority of Heads of States and Government.
Otubanjo said the opportunity to give practical effect to the President’s declaration came quickly with the coup d’etat in the Republic of Niger, on July 26, 2023.
“ECOWAS responded to this affront promptly and vigorously.
“The 51st Extra-ordinary summit of July 30, 2023, condemned the coup in Niger and called on the military junta for the immediate release and restoration of President Bazoum Muhammed and full constitutional order.
“The ECOWAS commission was also directed to maintain diplomatic engagement with the coup leaders to find a peaceful end to the impasse created by the coup,” he said.
According to Otubanjo, Nigeria has also kept a sharp eye on the constitutional turmoil in Senegal, Guinea Bissau, the attempted coup in Sierra Leone, the constitutional process in Gambia and the election in Liberia.
He added that on its part, ECOWAS, under Tinubu’s leadership, has elevated democracy and constitutional rule as priorities.
The international relations expert noted that Tinubu had been active in both bilateral and multilateral engagements.
“In the 17 months that he has been in office, he has visited 15 countries, including France, Kenya, India, Germany, Qatar, and China, to attract investment and development opportunities.
“A number of companies and corporations have announced new investments in Nigeria, including ExxonMobil, Indorama, Bharti Airtel, Jindal Steel, Coca-Cola, Shell, Afrexim, and others.
“In his 64th independence anniversary broadcast, Tinubu said Nigeria has attracted more than $30 billion in investment in the last 17 months.
“It is therefore safe to say that the development thrust is driving an investment momentum which would be beneficial to the Nigerian economy,” Otubanjo said.
He, however, noted that while the potentials of demography and diaspora in foreign policy were very well known, there had been no clear picture that they had yet been explored.
According to him, the Nigerian population remains a huge market opportunity waiting to be tapped.
“It is estimated that the figure for the multi-dimensional poor in Nigeria has shifted from 62 to 80 per cent.
“With such consuming poverty, it is difficult to see how demography can be a viable pillar of foreign policy until deliberate, coherent, and sustained poverty eradication measures are put in place,” he said.
To maximise the advantages of Nigerians in the Diaspora, Otubbanjo said deliberate efforts at mobilising and organising them into focus groups must be put in place.
He added that the government must institute incentives, which would attract the Diasporans back home and encourage them to be valuable promoters of Nigeria’s national interest. (NAN)
A.I
Oct. 24, 2024
Tags: ECOWAS Prof. Femi Otubanjo. Yusuf Tuggar
