Nigeria to deepen partnership with friendly countries

Nigeria to deepen partnership with friendly countries
Uche Aneke, Abuja 

Nigeria’s President, Goodluck Jonathan, says Nigeria will continue to build and deepen partnership with friendly countries based on mutual respect and responsiveness.

President Jonathan stated this while declaring open in Abuja, a conference organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to review Nigeria’s foreign policy.

Commitment to regional peace

He said that Nigeria, being a responsible member of the International Community, must remain committed to the principles and purposes of the United Nations and that it was in the interest of the country to continue to share peace keeping experiences with regional and sub regional organisations in Africa, including ECOWAS.

President Jonathan maintained that Nigeria’s commitment to regional and international peace and security must remain strong.

According to the President, to achieve this, there is the need to reform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to equip it with the competences necessary to enable it cope with Nigeria’s growing responsibilities on the world stage.

Canvassing international support

The President also mandated the Foreign Affairs ministry to document Nigeria’s roles and activities globally for use as a tool to canvass international support.

He advised that such documentation should capture the losses and gains to help guide the country’s future endeavours.

Foreign policy review

Dr Jonathan pointed out that after 25 years of concentrating on Africa it had become pertinent to refocus the nation’s policy-thrust following recent global events.

He said the new shift would focus on the defence of dignity of humanity at home and abroad, and taking the lead in entrenching democracy and consolidating development in Africa.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Council on International Relations, Mr. Emeka Anyaoku, noted that it had become necessary for the review of Nigerian foreign policy in the light of the changing situations in the world.

Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Olugbenga Ashiru, explained that Nigeria’s foreign policy was being repositioned to support the domestic programmes of the Government, improve the living standard of the people and tackle the nation’s socio-political and security challenges.

 Williams