Federal Government, yesterday, assured Nigerians that names of new ambassadors would be announced soon.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, who presented his scorecard alongside his Interior counterpart, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, admitted that though there was delay in appointing Nigeria’s heads of missions abroad, it had not affected implementation of the country’s foreign policies.
According to him, activities of embassies have not been suspended due to absence of ambassadors.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had, in October 2023, recalled all serving ambassadors and has since not replaced them, a situation that stakeholders feared might have been affecting Tuggar’s effort in deepening bilateral relations with other countries, but the minister dismissed such fears.
The minister listed efforts made by his ministry in repositioning Nigeria globally, increasing national pride and respect for citizens, the boosting confidence in Nigerian passport, achieving economic diplomacy and breaking barriers for Nigerian businesses.
“Imagine a Nigeria, where every of its citizens walks into any embassy, airport or business negotiation not with fear or intimidation, but with confidence. Imagine a Nigeria, whose passport opens doors, whose business leads global market and whose voice is not just heard but respected. That Nigeria is no longer a dream, the foundation is laid by President Tinubu’s 4D foreign policy doctrine”, the minister said.
The minister also said Nigeria was looking into claims that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was backing Boko Haram, noting that the allegation remained unverified.
He stated that despite the concerns, Boko Haram had been significantly degraded and the government was actively working to rehabilitate and reintegrate affected individuals.
IN his presentation, the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced plans to recruit an additional 10,000 agro rangers to enhance farmers’ security across the country, following series of violent attacks on agricultural communities.
Tunji-Ojo highlighted government’s commitment to improving internal security, noting that over the past year, 10,000 officers from Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were trained as agro rangers to protect agricultural lands.
Acknowledging ongoing security challenges, the minister expressed confidence in government’s progress and dedication to safeguarding farmers.
“We are making serious progress. More will still be done because we have President that understands that his first responsibility is the protection of lives and property”, he said.
The coordinator of the ministerial scorecard and the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, commended the media for the dedicated coverage of the session.