FG Reaffirms Commitment To Security, Diaspora Engagement

The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening national security, harnessing the Nigerian diaspora as a critical asset for development and deepening strategic partnerships with other countries.

According to Richard Elesho, Special Assistant, (SA) Media and Strategic Communications, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, stated this while speaking at the Dinner Night of the Nigerian Diaspora Economic Conference in Toronto, Canada.

Enikanolaiye said security remained a major challenge confronting the country, but assured that the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration was doing everything possible to address the multifaceted security challenges confronting Nigeria.

He said the government was also entering a new era of strategic partnership and autonomy with key international partners, including the United States.

“I came in from Washington only yesterday. I was privileged to have been part of the team meeting with the Americans,” the minister said.

According to him, the engagement with the United States is aimed at achieving concrete outcomes for Nigerians, particularly in the areas of security, prosperity, defence and the welfare of citizens.

On the Nigerian diaspora, Enikanolaiye said the Tinubu administration considered Nigerians living abroad as important contributors to national development rather than a burden on government.

“For this government, Nigerians in the diaspora are critical assets of national development. We don’t see you as a basket case of consular burden responsibilities always in need of government’s intervention and assistance.

“On the contrary, we see you as a vital human resource with huge capacities for Nigeria which government is trying to harness in terms of our national development priorities,” he said.

The minister called for greater unity among Nigerians at home and abroad, urging citizens to overcome ethnic, religious and tribal divisions in the interest of national development.

“We are aware of the trust deficit that exists among Nigerians, especially those of us abroad. Let’s try and break those barriers of ethnicity, barriers of religion, barriers of tribe, and let’s relate on the functional aspect of cooperation that promotes production, that promotes development, that promotes growth and prosperity unto Nigeria,” he said.

He also commended Canada and other international partners for their contributions towards strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation with Nigeria.

Enikanolaiye urged stakeholders to continue to support partnerships based on mutual respect and cooperation, stressing that such relationships would advance Nigeria’s national interests.

He thanked the organisers of the conference and members of the diaspora community for their contributions to the country’s development and for celebrating the potential and resources of Nigeria.