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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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New civil service association wants Ogun governor to halt hurried implementation of contributory pension scheme until…

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February 24, 2026

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New civil service association wants Ogun governor to halt hurried implementation of contributory pension scheme until……

By: Bodunrin Kayode

The entire members of the Association of New Ogun Civil and Public Service Retirees have called on Governor Dapo Abiodun to halt any further accelerated action on the proposed contributory pension scheme (CPS) for civil servants.

The association which comprises more than 600 members and still counting as people are retiring wants Prince Dapo Abiodun, to consider their plights by shifting the proposed hurried implementation of the CPS forward to a later year when all vexatious aspects of the law that established the CPS would have been properly fixed.

In a release signed by about five of the worried retirees, led by Shadrach Omopariola, the members maintain we that “inline with this, we plead with His Excellency Prince Dapo Abiodun CON to order the payment of our monthly pension as from January 1st 2026 to bring back the hope of living in us and put smile on our faces.

“Your Excellency Sir, we heard that your Government is planning to introduce a new idea that is known as ‘Additional Pension Benefits’ This in itself is nothing to be compared with the gains and benefits of the Old Pension Scheme.

” Sir, the payment of our monthly pension would in no small measure improve not only the economic growth of our immediate families but would be a moral booster for the good people of Ogun State inline with Your Excellency’s Mantra of ‘Igbega ipinle Ogun Ajose Gbogbo wa Ni’.

“We will patiently wait for the payment of our gratuity with faith in the government of Ogun State to pay us as soon as possible.

“We remain law-abiding senior citizens of Ogun State even in this difficult situation where we have no money to take care of ourselves, our children, our aged parents, and other dependent relatives.

“We believe in your kind heartedness and goodwill that you will not close your eyes to our pleading but you will come to our rescue within the shortest time possible to bring happiness and joy to all of us.”

The release was jointly signed by Omopariola Shadrach, Adeyanju Joseph, Falola Kayode, Obasan Olufolake and Kayode Mulikat.

The contributory pension scheme is a new scheme first introduced by the fed government in June 2004 following the enactment of the pension reform act by President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The act was later repealed and replaced by the pension reform Act of 2014 which updated the terms of the scheme by exempting employees who had three years or less to retire, those who retired before the enactment, judicial officers, members of the armed forces and the secret service.

Teachers who should have led the list of these exemptions because of their thankless services to humanity like that of the military were completely ignored.

Sub nationals now trying to domesticate the scheme have equally refused to give teachers that special exemption they are entitled to for their thankless services.

New civil service association wants Ogun governor to halt hurried implementation of contributory pension scheme until…

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At a Time of Fracture, Akpabio Frames AfCFTA as West Africa’s Last Best Shield Against Marginalisation

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February 24, 2026

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At a Time of Fracture, Akpabio Frames AfCFTA as West Africa’s Last Best Shield Against Marginalisation


…ECOWAS Parliament President Pushes for Bold Economic Shift
… Odumegwu-Ojukwu Calls for Accelerated Regional Economic Integration, Strengthen Institutional Cooperation

By: Michael Mike

In a region shaken by coups, economic strain and rising global protectionism, President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio has delivered what may be his most forceful case yet for urgent regional consolidation — casting economic integration not as an option, but as West Africa’s survival strategy.

Addressing lawmakers at the Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja, Akpabio framed the moment in stark terms: a world increasingly defined by hardened borders, supply-chain nationalism and geopolitical rivalry leaves little room for fragmented economies.

His message was unmistakable — West Africa must integrate or risk irrelevance.

At the centre of his argument is the full and uncompromising implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). But beyond ceremonial endorsements, Akpabio challenged lawmakers to confront the uncomfortable truth that trade agreements without legislative alignment, infrastructure readiness and security guarantees remain symbolic.

He warned that if goods cannot move seamlessly from Lagos to Accra or Dakar to Abidjan without bureaucratic bottlenecks, then regional integration remains rhetorical.

More pointedly, Akpabio, who was represented by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, linked insecurity directly to stalled economic progress, describing instability as the silent saboteur of intra-African trade. In a region where constitutional disruptions have tested ECOWAS cohesion, he suggested that economic interdependence could become a stabilising force — binding member states not only by treaties but by shared prosperity.

Observers say the Senate President’s remarks signal a shift in tone: from aspirational integration to enforceable integration.

He urged parliaments across the bloc to harmonise national laws with regional commitments, dismantle regulatory contradictions and invest in infrastructure that physically and digitally connects markets. Without such coherence, he warned, West Africa risks remaining a supplier of raw materials while importing finished dependency.

For Nigeria — the region’s largest economy — the speech carried added weight. Akpabio acknowledged that Nigerian growth cannot be insulated from regional fragility, implying that leadership now demands shared uplift rather than dominance.

The underlying message was clear: AfCFTA must move from conference halls into factories, ports, farms and fintech platforms. It must empower small traders, protect cross-border commerce from corruption and unlock value-added production within West Africa.

At a time when global trade blocs are consolidating power, Akpabio’s address positions ECOWAS at a crossroads — either deepen integration and negotiate the global arena collectively, or confront it divided and diminished.

On her part, the President of the ECOWAS Parliament, Mémounatou Ibrahima, called for decisive, measurable action to transform West Africa into a competitive economic bloc, warning that regional integration must move from declarations to delivery.

She declared that the Parliament’s mandate goes beyond representation — it is about responding to the expectations of over 400 million West Africans seeking peace, security and shared prosperity.

At the heart of the session is the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which she described as a historic instrument capable of reshaping the region’s economic destiny — but only if fully embraced and effectively executed.

“The AfCFTA has entered its operational phase. Our responsibility is clear: to make it a lever for structural transformation in West Africa,” she said.

Ibrahima stressed that with nearly five decades of integration experience, ECOWAS must not merely follow continental reforms but lead and harmonize them, particularly as the region hosts the AfCFTA Secretariat.

However, she acknowledged stark realities confronting the bloc. Intra-regional trade remains below 10 percent of total trade, industrial capacity is weak, and most member states continue exporting raw commodities such as cocoa, cotton, palm oil and timber with minimal value addition.

“Our economies often compete rather than complement each other,” she noted, adding that delayed ratifications and the absence of clear national strategies in some member states risk slowing coordinated implementation.

Despite these constraints, she highlighted key strengths: a harmonized macroeconomic framework, a Common External Tariff, innovative trade facilitation tools like the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), and a youthful population representing nearly one-third of Africa’s total demographic strength.

But for AfCFTA to deliver, she insisted, parliamentarians must act decisively — harmonizing legal frameworks, dismantling non-tariff barriers, overseeing community resources and ensuring inclusive participation of women, youth and private sector actors.

Beyond trade, Ibrahima outlined three strategic priorities for 2026: consolidating democracy and constitutional order, strengthening regional security cooperation, and advancing women’s leadership.

She welcomed the lifting of sanctions against Guinea following its December 2025 presidential election and urged peaceful electoral processes in Cape Verde, The Gambia and Benin, while encouraging dialogue in Guinea-Bissau.

On security, she warned that terrorism, violent extremism and transnational crime remain persistent threats that demand intelligence sharing, coordinated action and effective deployment of the ECOWAS Standby Force.

She also called for stronger implementation of gender inclusion commitments, urging the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association to move from advocacy to measurable impact.

In declaring the seminar and Extraordinary Session open, Ibrahima challenged lawmakers to ensure that integration becomes tangible — measured not by speeches, but by expanded intra-regional trade, harmonized policies and improved livelihoods.

“Integration must not merely be proclaimed; it must be implemented,” she said.

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, in her intervention asked West African states to accelerate regional economic integration and strengthen institutional cooperation to confront emerging political, economic and security challenges across the sub-region.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who was represented by the Head ECOWAS National Unit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Nonyelum Afoekelu, in her opening remarks at the First Parliamentary Seminar and First Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament, an event which was part of activities marking the Golden Jubilee of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), stated that regional leaders should use the platform to recommit to the future of integration and shared prosperity.

She said the programme comes at a critical time when West Africa must consolidate its integration agenda, strengthen institutional coherence and collectively respond to socio-economic and security threats affecting the region.

She described the seminar as a strategic platform for reflection, renewed commitment and practical policy dialogue aimed at deepening regional cooperation, harmonizing legislation and accelerating the realisation of ECOWAS objectives.

She also described the keynote theme of the seminar, “Deepening Regional Integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA): Opportunities and Challenges for the Expansion of Intra-Community Trade within the ECOWAS Region,” was described as highly relevant to the region’s development trajectory.

She noted that declining regional trade has been aggravated by insecurity, unconstitutional changes of government, climate change impacts and other transnational threats that continue to disrupt cross-border commerce.

However, she emphasized that the African Continental Free Trade Area presents a historic opportunity for West Africa to expand trade, attract investment and strengthen regional value chains.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu stressed that ECOWAS is not starting AfCFTA implementation from scratch, noting that the region already has a strong foundation through the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS), which promotes the free movement of goods originating within Member States.

She explained that the ETLS provides a tested institutional and legal framework that can be harmonised with continental trade structures to accelerate economic integration across Africa.

By leveraging existing regulatory instruments and dispute resolution mechanisms, she said ECOWAS can become a continental leader in operationalising AfCFTA and improving the global competitiveness of West African businesses.

She however emphasised that the ECOWAS Parliament must play a central role in translating regional agreements into domestic policies.

She said the Parliament serves as a bridge between regional commitments and national implementation by working with national governments and legislatures to ensure trade policies are aligned with AfCFTA objectives.

In practical terms, she called for: Ratification and harmonisation of trade-related legislation; Adequate budgetary allocations for AfCFTA implementation; Strong oversight of executive compliance; Increased engagement with private sector actors, customs authorities and civil society organisations

Through legislative diplomacy and policy scrutiny, she said the Parliament can help remove regulatory bottlenecks and eliminate non-tariff trade barriers that hinder regional commerce.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu urged delegates to actively participate in deliberations to ensure the session produces practical and actionable outcomes for regional development.

She expressed confidence that the seminar would help strengthen West Africa’s integration agenda and support long-term economic prosperity for the region’s citizens.

As ECOWAS celebrates its 50th anniversary, regional leaders say the focus remains on transforming integration commitments into real economic opportunities for businesses, traders and young entrepreneurs across West Africa.

At a Time of Fracture, Akpabio Frames AfCFTA as West Africa’s Last Best Shield Against Marginalisation

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GOC convoy foils ambush, kills five terrorists, recovers weapons cache in Kebbi

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February 24, 2026

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GOC convoy foils ambush, kills five terrorists, recovers weapons cache in Kebbi

By: Zagazola Makama

A convoy of the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 8 Division and Commander Sector 2 of the Joint Task Force North West Operation FANSAN YAMMA, successfully repelled a deadly ambush near Mayama Hill in Kebbi State, resulting in the neutralization of five suspected Lakurawa terrorists.

The attack occurred as the convoy was en route to visit frontline troops deployed in the state. Armed assailants opened fire from the forested terrain, but the convoy responded swiftly with overwhelming force, foiling the ambush and disrupting the attackers’ plans.

A subsequent sweep of the area led to the recovery of a substantial cache of weapons and materials, including an OJC gun, a PKT gun, two AK-47 rifles, four AK-47 magazines, a bandolier of PKT ammunition, several rounds of 12.7mm ammunition, five motorcycles, two mobile phones, and a camel bag containing ₦840,000.

Troops remain deployed and vigilant in the area to maintain security and prevent further terrorist activity.

Security sources said the operation sent a strong deterrent message to insurgent groups operating in the North West region.

GOC convoy foils ambush, kills five terrorists, recovers weapons cache in Kebbi

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