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FOREIGN POLICY AND THE PATH TO PEACE IN A DANGEROUS NEIGHBOURHOOD

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1 year ago

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FOREIGN POLICY AND THE PATH TO PEACE IN A DANGEROUS NEIGHBOURHOOD

By: Michael
Mike

Nigeria’s foreign policy to promote peace and prosperity is a constitutional obligation as much as it is a considered and sensible manifesto pledge, writes Hon Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

I was born in a civil war and was not able to vote for my leader until I was in my 30s. Nigeria is now a country guided by the rule of law and a constitution that clearly defines our system of government. This includes our foreign policy objectives, and rightly so, because in an interconnected world, we define our sovereignty in the context of certain, key principles: our right to self-determination; our right to defend our autonomy and secure our borders; and responsibility to respect our obligations under international law.

As foreign minister, I think these provisions are not just reasonable but vital – both for our own democracy, domestic peace and prosperity but also for a more just and stable international order. But the point is this: it is the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, not the manifesto of a political party or predilections of a particular politician, that lays out these provisions. In a democracy, we have the privilege of healthy debate about our values, policies and performance. But if we are to live up to the responsibilities that come with democracy, that debate should be informed, fair and reasonable.

I respect the Constitution and its vision for Nigeria’s place in the international community, as do many of us. It has been an honour and a privilege to protect and promote those constitutional principles. They are the best guarantees for legitimacy, and the authority all governments need if they are to deliver. It is complex and time consuming. To our cost, we have learnt that there are no short cuts. Some Nigerians find fault in our Constitution, while others seek to amend it. There is always room for serious debate in a healthy democracy. But the fact remains it is the very document that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and every public official has sworn to uphold since 1999.

Nigeria’s Constitution declares that sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria, from whom government, through this Constitution, derives all its powers and authority. The same Chapter of the Constitution goes on to state Nigeria’s five foreign policy objectives: promotion and protection of the national interest, African integration and support for African unity, promotion of international cooperation for peace and mutual respect, respect of international law and treaty obligations and promotion of a just world economic order. Those who suggest Nigeria does not have a foreign policy or those who agitate for a shift away from an Afro-centric foreign policy are wrong; either they are ill-informed, or deliberately disingenuous.

The irony of it all is that Nigerians are able to speak in support of our military-ruled neighbours, governed without constitutions, precisely because Chapter Four of our own constitution guarantees them these rights and freedoms. This is not the same for the citizens ruled by the very regimes for which they seek to cheerlead of those countries governed without constitutions. Nigerians who are older than 30 know this to be true because we have been there, done that. Somehow in the passage of time, some forget that the military regime here that despatched troops to restore democracy in Sierra Leone and Liberia in the 1990s had first – and by force – taken that same democracy and rule of law away from us – just as military regimes continue to do the world over.

The Constitution also makes clear why any responsible Nigerian government should be concerned when neighbours are governed without a constitution or codified rules. It goes without saying that the sovereignty of our neighbours is their business. They can grant powers to whatever governing structures they deem fit and should expect their autonomy to remain safeguarded. But when our Interdependence Sovereignty overlaps, we equally have a right to exercise control over our borders in those cases where neighbours face insurgencies that significantly comprise territorial integrity and state authority.

International Legal Sovereignty also becomes an issue when we consider that respect for international law and treaty obligations is one of our irreducible foreign policy objectives. This is not the Tinubu administration’s foreign policy; it is a constitutional provision that every Nigerian President and government official swears to uphold. Nigeria is a member of ECOWAS, which is founded on treaties and protocols to which our foreign policy objectives commit us. All 15 member countries are signatory to the treaties and protocols, which is why it was no surprise that President Tinubu, as one who swore to uphold the Constitution, abided by it when ECOWAS leaders collectively objected to Unconstitutional Changes of Government.

In reality, the contemporary nation-state system is highly competitive and Nigeria exists in a self-help world. Our Constitution and international laws are meant to serve as guard rails in navigating the system. And by virtue of our size, we have the additional responsibility of being the regional power. Regardless of how some may try to diminish our standing, it is the way other countries perceive us. Our Constitution further reifies this leadership role right from the preamble- dedicating ourselves to promoting inter-African solidarity, to the foreign policy objectives- promotion of African integration and support for African unity and elimination of discrimination in all its manifestations.

The Tinubu administration comes at a time when an interlocking suite of occurrences have made our neighbourhood less secure; implosion of Libya, failure of the EU Sahel Strategy, terrorism and criminal gangs, effects of climate change and population explosion. Nigeria did not create these challenges and was equally contending with its own domestic issue as these challenges escalated. Nigeria was not part of Operation Barkhane or the G5 in the Sahel, which were intended as efforts to fight terrorism and irregular migration but instead strengthened some irridentist Azawad/Tuareg groups that controlled border areas. This created a cauldron of disharmony between them and their national militaries, trained for a lifetime to keep their countries intact.

Nor was Nigeria part of the Partnership Framework with Third countries that conditioned aid and trade deals for Sahelian migration transit states in exchange for reducing the flow of migrants, with penalties for those who do not comply. In the case of Niger, a moment of truth was the passing of Law 2015-36 in May 2015 when its government, in consultation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and technical and financial support from the European Union and its member states, criminalized ancillary activities of the migration economy, such as providing transportation and accommodation to foreign nationals anywhere north of Agadez, in direct contravention of ECOWAS Protocol on the free movement of people. They were persuaded to use a blunt hammer to crack a delicate nut. There is a highly politicised migration crisis in parts of Europe, that together we can and should resolve. But it was reckless to seek to solve one problem by creating another.

There is a reason why we have free movement in West Africa; seasonal migration- referred to in Hausa as ‘Ci Rani’. Seasonal migration in the semi-arid Sahel can be a matter of life and death, which is why we have always had turbaned Tuaregs going as far as Lagos and Port Harcourt to work as Maigadis (security) during the dry months, only to return back north during the rainy season. The weaponisation of sub-Saharan migration in Europe as a political tool led to the securitisation of the Sahel region, further exacerbating the security situation by forcing many of those affected to turn to criminal activities and terrorism. European migration figures show majority of migrants are from Syria, Afghanistan and Central Asia, not sub-Saharan Africa.

Yes, we need to work with our Sahelian neighbours to fight terrorism, by maintaining a right of pursuit into each others territories. But it would be myopic to think of this in absolutist terms, because we can accede to all conditionalities laid by them, it would still not be enough to tackle the challenges without a lasting solution to the bifurcated Libyan State as a source of weapons, training and fighters, as well as the shadowy involvement of a range of other state and non-state actors.

To achieve a lasting peace in Libya and the Sahel, Nigeria needs to deal with all the countries in the neighbourhood as well as all the major powers. For this reason, it does not make sense to simply deduce that Nigeria has to distance itself from France because that is the prevailing trend in its former colonies. The fulcrum of the Tinubu administration’s foreign policy is Strategic Autonomy, providing us with the clarity to engage with any and all nations based on our national interests and not those of others. As a nation, Nigeria is adult enough and sophisticated enough to deal with countries without being unduly influenced, because that has been part of our historical and civic tradition. You cannot cure an illness by picking which symptoms to consider and which to ignore.

Nigeria and ECOWAS will continue diplomatic efforts towards Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso. At a minimum, we have shared interest in peaceful co-existence. President Tinubu has sent a number of high-level delegations that included a former Head of State, traditional rulers and religious scholars. President Tinubu pushed for the unconditional removal of ECOWAS sanctions imposed on Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso. What he has consistently asked of the countries in question is for them to come up with a timetable for the restoration of constitutional rule and, in the case of Niger, the release of ousted President Bazoum.

Their response was to declare their intention to leave ECOWAS. With the one-year notice period coming to an end in January 2025, President Tinubu further pushed for ECOWAS to extend the grace period for another six months whilst intensifying diplomatic efforts. The response to this initiative last month was evidence-free allegations that Nigeria was harbouring foreign soldiers and as sponsoring state terrorism. Whenever President Tinubu and other democratic leaders offer stoic statesmanship and an opportunity to work together towards our common interests, it is met by confected controversy designed to divert and distract from a failure to meet the basic responsibilities of public administration. I know why coup leaders might seek to do that: it’s harder to understand the motives of apologists closer to home.

On my part, since assuming the office of Minister of Foreign Affairs on 21st August 2023, I have engaged diplomatically without pause, proposing personal visits and inviting senior government officials and representatives. Response has been akin to a diplomatic cold shoulder. We constituted a ministerial advisory committee that visited Niger and Mali and facilitated the visit of the Nigerian CDS to meet with his counterpart in Niamey. I regret that a proposed return visit was suspended by Niger after a date had been set. But let there be no doubt: we will continue to pursue diplomatic efforts assiduously, with a Ministry of Foreign Affairs that has existed for 67 years.

Nigeria’s principle of strategic autonomy is one that abhors the presence of foreign forces and private military companies in our region, whether from east or west. Nigeria presently has troops on peace keeping operations in Guinea Bissau and Gambia, with Sierra Leone on the way, where it is also supporting the setting up of a logistics base in Lungi. Nigeria is also leading the actualisation of the ECOWAS standby force, all in an effort to fight terrorism and instability within our region under the rule of law. We work closely with our partners on sharing of intelligence in order to guarantee the same rights and freedoms are enjoyed by all the people of the region.

As several of my colleagues in the region remind me, we are the hegemon, whether we admit it or not. And global politics works almost like physics, with polarity, ordering principles, distribution of power, balancing, etc. Nigeria has never had expansionist tendencies, never been threatening towards our neighbours and always chosen the path of peace and conciliation. This in part may have to do with the makeup of our polity and social fabric. Being such a huge country, we are used to the virtues of principled compromise. It is not by accident that we are the only country on the continent with six former leaders living in peace and harmony within our borders. Diversity, not division, is our strength. This is as true for Nigeria as it is for the smallest of countries – and collectively for all of our region.

FOREIGN POLICY AND THE PATH TO PEACE IN A DANGEROUS NEIGHBOURHOOD

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ECOWAS Court Raises Alarm Over Gender Violence, Low Compliance With Judgments

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11 hours ago

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March 10, 2026

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ECOWAS Court Raises Alarm Over Gender Violence, Low Compliance With Judgments

By: Michael Mike

The President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, Claudio Monteiro Gonçalves, has called for stronger regional action to combat gender-based violence and ensure justice for women and girls across West Africa, warning that many victims still suffer in silence.

Gonçalves, who was represented by the Acting Deputy Registrar of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, Mrs. Marie Sanie, made the call in Abuja during the court’s celebration of International Women’s Day, organised by the CCJ Women Forum under the theme “Rights, Justice, Action for All Women and Girls,” with a sub-theme urging stakeholders to “Break the Silence: End Gender-Based Violence Now.”

He said the protection of women’s rights remains central to the court’s mandate of advancing the rule of law and safeguarding fundamental human rights across the Economic Community of West African States.

According to him, the court has, through its judgments, played a significant role in challenging discrimination, addressing sexual and gender-based violence and providing remedies for victims across the region.

“These groundbreaking decisions have not only delivered justice to individuals but have also set important legal precedents that reinforce the dignity and protection of women and girls throughout the region,” he said.

Among the landmark rulings highlighted by the court president was the 2008 case of Hadijatou Mani Koraou v Republic of Niger, which addressed slavery practices in Niger, and the 2017 case of Dorothy Chioma Njemanze & 3 Ors v Federal Republic of Nigeria that condemned discrimination and degrading treatment against women.

Other notable cases cited include WARDC & IHRDA (Mary Sunday) v Federal Republic of Nigeria on domestic violence, WAVES & 1 Or v Republic of Sierra Leone on discrimination based on pregnancy, Adama Vandi v Republic of Sierra Leone on rape and the failure to provide effective remedy for victims, and Forum Against Harmful Practices (FAHP) & 2 Ors v Republic of Sierra Leone concerning female genital mutilation.

Gonçalves stressed that gender-based violence remains a major obstacle to equality, justice and sustainable development across the region.

“Too often, survivors suffer in silence due to stigma, fear or lack of support to seek justice. Today we affirm that silence must end and justice must be translated into action,” he said.

The court president also expressed concern over the low level of compliance with the court’s rulings by member states, revealing that only about 20 per cent of its judgments have been fully implemented.

He warned that the low enforcement rate could undermine the authority and credibility of the regional court if not addressed urgently.

To tackle the challenge, he said the court recently carried out bilateral engagement missions to several member states, including Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Guinea-Conakry, as part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States.

The missions, he explained, were aimed at encouraging governments to implement the court’s decisions and fulfil their treaty obligations.

Gonçalves also noted that the court regularly conducts awareness and outreach missions across member states to educate citizens on how to access the court and seek redress for human rights violations.

He emphasised that justice would only be fully realised when citizens are aware of their rights and governments ensure that court judgments are respected and implemented.

While celebrating the achievements of women working within the ECOWAS Court, he acknowledged that challenges remain, particularly in ensuring greater representation of women in leadership positions and creating supportive work environments that promote work-life balance.

Despite the challenges, he reaffirmed the court’s commitment to strengthening legal protections for women and girls in the region.

“As we celebrate the achievements of women today, we reaffirm our commitment to delivering justice, advancing the rule of law and building a region where every woman and girl can live in safety and dignity,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Patron of the ECJ Women Forum, Justice Dupe Atoki, has called for stronger commitment to protecting the rights of women and girls, stressing that legal protections must go beyond promises to ensure real justice and equality.

Atoki made the call during the celebration of International Women’s Day at the ECOWAS Court of Justice in Abuja, where officials, diplomats and legal practitioners gathered to discuss the role of justice systems in safeguarding women’s rights across West Africa.

Speaking on the global theme for this year’s commemoration, the judge said the theme serves as both a reminder and a call to responsibility for governments, institutions and society at large.

She emphasised that the rights of women and girls should never be treated as privileges granted at convenience but as fundamental human rights that must be respected, protected and fulfilled.

According to her, although progress has been made globally in advancing gender equality, many women and girls still face barriers that limit their opportunities, silence their voices and restrict their participation in social, political and economic life.

“The emphasis on rights reminds us that the rights of women and girls are not privileges to be granted at convenience, but fundamental human rights that must be respected, protected and fulfilled,” she said.

Atoki noted that justice systems have a critical responsibility in addressing discrimination, violence and exclusion against women, adding that courts and legal institutions must remain accessible, impartial and responsive to the realities women face.

She said effective justice mechanisms are essential in ensuring that laws protecting women are properly enforced and that perpetrators of abuse are held accountable.

“The call for justice highlights the vital role of laws, institutions and courts in safeguarding equality and dignity. Justice must be accessible, impartial and responsive to the realities faced by women and girls,” she stated.

Atoki also stressed that achieving gender equality requires more than commitments and declarations, noting that deliberate action is necessary to dismantle structural barriers that hinder the progress of women and girls.

According to her, governments and institutions must translate policy commitments into practical measures that create safe and supportive environments for women to thrive.

“The call for action reminds us that commitments alone are not enough. Real progress requires deliberate steps through policies, institutions and collective effort to dismantle structural barriers and create environments where women and girls can thrive,” she said.

She urged stakeholders across the region to renew their commitment to advancing women’s rights, strengthening access to justice and ensuring that gender equality becomes a lived reality rather than a distant aspiration.

Atoki concluded by calling on governments, civil society organisations and legal institutions to work together to ensure that the promise of rights, justice and action is realised for all women and girls across the West African region.

ECOWAS Court Raises Alarm Over Gender Violence, Low Compliance With Judgments

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NHRC Takes Rights Campaign to Grassroots, Holds Women’s Day Town Hall in Abuja Community

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11 hours ago

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March 10, 2026

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NHRC Takes Rights Campaign to Grassroots, Holds Women’s Day Town Hall in Abuja Community

By: Michael Mike

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has intensified advocacy for the protection of women and girls by organising a community town hall meeting in Bwari as part of activities marking the 2026 International Women’s Day.

The sensitisation programme brought together traditional rulers, youth leaders, women groups and other community stakeholders to discuss the need for stronger action against discrimination and violence affecting women.

Executive Secretary of the Commission, Tony Ojukwu, said the annual commemoration of International Women’s Day provides an important opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women while drawing attention to the obstacles that still limit their full participation in society.

Ojukwu, who was represented at the event by the Director of the Commission’s Women and Children Department, Ngozi Okorie stressed that the theme of the 2026 celebration, “Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls,” calls for practical and sustained efforts to remove barriers confronting women in many communities.

He noted that despite growing awareness of gender equality, women and girls continue to face gender-based violence, discrimination, limited access to justice and socio-economic inequalities.

According to him, addressing these challenges requires the collective commitment of government institutions, community leaders and citizens.

“The rights of women and girls are fundamental human rights. Protecting them demands deliberate and sustained action from all stakeholders,” he said.

The NHRC boss reaffirmed the Commission’s determination to promote and safeguard the rights of all Nigerians, particularly vulnerable groups such as women and children.

He explained that the Bwari town hall meeting was designed to deepen public awareness of human rights and provide a platform for dialogue on practical measures that could strengthen the protection of women and girls at the grassroots.

Traditional rulers who attended the forum commended the Commission for bringing the conversation on human rights closer to local communities.

The Esu of Bwari, represented by Mai Anguwa of FCDA Quarters, Zakwoi Ibrahim, described the initiative as timely, noting that such engagements would help educate residents about their rights and responsibilities.

Also speaking, Youth President of Bwari Area Council, Comrade Dr Awoyi Bwari, praised the NHRC for organising the programme, saying it would boost awareness on human rights issues among both men and women in the community.

Representatives of women’s organisations, including faith-based groups and market associations, also participated in the meeting and pledged their support for efforts aimed at promoting and protecting the rights and welfare of women and girls.

NHRC Takes Rights Campaign to Grassroots, Holds Women’s Day Town Hall in Abuja Community

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Interior, Information Ministries Forge Stronger Partnership, Spotlight Key Reforms in Passport, Security, Identity Services

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11 hours ago

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March 10, 2026

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Interior, Information Ministries Forge Stronger Partnership, Spotlight Key Reforms in Passport, Security, Identity Services

By: Michael Mike

The Ministry of Interior has strengthened its collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation to improve public awareness of key government reforms in passport services, border security, identity management, and national safety.

The engagement took place during a high-level visit by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, to the Ministry of Interior, where he was received by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

Tunji-Ojo while welcoming the delegation, highlighted the critical need for coordinated communication to ensure Nigerians are fully informed about government achievements under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Tunji-Ojo noted that the Ministry of Interior oversees key agencies, including the Nigerian Immigration Service, Federal Fire Service, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigerian Correctional Service, and the National Identity Management Commission. He described the last two and a half years as a period of transformative reforms across these agencies, resulting in significant improvements in service delivery, security, and citizen engagement.

Among the Ministry’s notable achievements, Tunji-Ojo highlighted the rapid clearance of over 204,000 pending passport applications, the introduction of contactless passport renewals for Nigerians abroad, and the establishment of Nigeria’s first centralised passport personalisation centre in Abuja. He also pointed to advanced border management technologies, including the deployment of Advanced Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) systems, and the introduction of electronic immigration gates at major airports.

In the area of identity management, Tunji-Ojo announced that over 130 million Nigerians have been enrolled in the National Identity Database, while the launch of the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card now facilitates regional travel within West Africa without passports. The Minister further highlighted correctional reforms, skills development for inmates, the construction of a National Fire Academy, and deployment of Mining Marshals to protect critical mining sites.

Tunji-Ojo emphasized that these reforms require strong public communication and urged the Ministry of Information to collaborate on a coordinated strategy to ensure accurate and timely dissemination of information to Nigerians and the international community.

In his response, Idris commended the Ministry of Interior for the remarkable reforms, stressing that consistent government messaging on security and development initiatives would boost Nigeria’s international image and attract foreign investment. He also announced that Nigeria would host the World Public Relations Forum later this year in partnership with the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), a move expected to bring global communication experts to the country.

Both Ministers agreed to deepen collaboration in strategic communication to ensure that government achievements and reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda are widely publicized and accessible to Nigerians. Tunji-Ojo reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to sustaining reforms that translate into tangible benefits for citizens.

The partnership signals a renewed focus on transparency, institutional reform, and enhanced citizen engagement, positioning Nigeria to showcase its progress on governance, security, and development to both domestic and international audiences.

Interior, Information Ministries Forge Stronger Partnership, Spotlight Key Reforms in Passport, Security, Identity Services

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