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Right of Reply: Re-Yusuf Tuggar’s Strategic Autonomy and Nigeria’s Non-Alignment Policy, Beyond the Dangerous Neighbourhood
Right of Reply: Re-Yusuf Tuggar’s Strategic Autonomy and Nigeria’s Non-Alignment Policy, Beyond the Dangerous Neighbourhood
Oladimeji Badmus
It’s good to see the Minister’s article on Nigeria’s foreign policy and its implementation has sparked a round of intellectual debate. Bola A. Akinterinwa article titled Re-Yusuf Tuggar’s Strategic Autonomy and Nigeria’s Non-Alignment Policy beyond the dangerous neighborhood published in the ThisDay Newspaper of 12th January 3025, is a healthy and enriching contribution.
That said, it’s important to stick to facts and attribute statements to those participating in this much needed discourse the way they said it and fairly. The Minister mentioned Strategic Autonomy as the fulcrum of the Tinubu Administration’s agenda, not as a sixth foreign policy objective for Nigeria. Nowhere in his article did he try to amend the Constitution and ascribe it an additional foreign policy objective. What Akinterinwa has done here is to use casuistry to turn epistemology (Strategic Autonomy, Democracy Demography and Diaspora, etc) into Ontology (the five foreign policy objectives of Nigeria stated in the Constitution).
These are two different things. Akinterinwa should have instead listed Strategic Autonomy along with Bolaji Akinyemi’s Consultation Doctrine, Gambari’s Concentricism and Olu Adeniji’s Constructive and Beneficial Concentricism.
Strategic Autonomy is the 21st Century version of Balewa’s non-alignment. If non-alignment was never mistaken to be a foreign policy objective, how can Strategic Autonomy be deemed to be one?
The executive arm of government is responsible for implementing agenda to achieve the foreign policy objectives, not to question the said objectives government officials, both political appointees and civil servants are sworn to protecting and abiding by the requirements of the Constitution. They do not have the luxury to pick and choose what parts of the Constitution are right or wrong as Akinterinwa’s article seems to regress into. He even appears to romanticize the irredentist notions of IPOB and Oodua groups and justifies it as the right to self-determination. One may then ask, how well are South Sudan and Somali Land fairing (two recent examples of irredentist movements that achieved statehood)?
There is a process for amending Nigeria’s constitution, which requires support of the two chambers of the National Assembly and two thirds of the state houses of assembly. We Nigerians expect the foreign minister to focus on actualizing our foreign policy objectives and abiding by the constitution and not pursue amendment to please irredentist movements or neighbouring countries. The Constitution may have got it wrong by mentioning the protection of national interest and respect for international law as objectives instead of an act, but so it remain until it is amended. We should not expect an administration or its foreign Minister with a four year term to focus on such pedantic hair-splitting. Their focus should be on what they swore to uphold.
Akinterinwa argues that distancing ourselves from France because some of our neighbors do not get along with her would help African integration. This is a simplistic view of complex global politics. We must not take a manichaean view of our relationships with other countries. It is not a Cowboy movie where all the good guys wear white hats and the bad guys black ones. As an intellectual, I would have expected Akinterinwa to unpack the contents of Nigeria’s relationship with France. It is presently I-Dice through which thousands of young Nigerians are to be trained in digital technology.
It is Investments in renewable energy to provide electricity. It is also in getting the support of France to become a member of the G20 and a permanent seat in the UN Security Council, where Nigeria’s big voice will help actualise the very same African integration and also assist more deliberate developmental support for the likes of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
And in terms of working with our neighbors towards a more secure neighborhood, I believe the Minister mentioned in his article that working with sahelian countries alone will not fix the security challenges without fixing Libya. You cannot fix Libya without working with the very same major powers including France that created the problem in the first place. Engaging with France based on the above is not tantamount with being bellicose towards our neighbors. And what happens tomorrow if there is another coup in Niger and the new government says they have kissed and made up with France? Would Akinterinwa then expect the Nigerian government to immediately pivot and start being friendly with France because Niger’s leadership says it’s ok? This would be the tail wagging the dog, Niger leading Nigeria.
Oladimeji Badmus is the Convener of Mwalimu Peers a Pan African International Affairs Think-Tank
Right of Reply: Re-Yusuf Tuggar’s Strategic Autonomy and Nigeria’s Non-Alignment Policy, Beyond the Dangerous Neighbourhood
FG unveils 39 inmate transport vehicles, armoured booths for prison security
By: Our Reporter
Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the minister of interior, has inaugurated 39 mini-green Maria vehicles to ensure the safe transportation of inmates to courts during trials.
In a statement on X, the ministry said the commissioning took place at the headquarters of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
The minister also unveiled four armoured security guard booths to protect correctional facilities from external aggression by non-state actors.
“The Hon. Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, today inaugurated four armored security guard booths at the Nigerian Correctional Service headquarters to enhance the defense of correctional facilities against external threats,” the statement reads.
“He also unveiled 39 mini-green Maria vehicles designed to ensure the secure transportation of inmates to court during trials. These efforts reflect President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s dedication to the safety and welfare of officers and inmates.
FG unveils 39 inmate transport vehicles, armoured booths for prison security
Damaturu Flyover: The Making of A Befitting State Capital
By: Mamman Mohammed
Since the news about the signing of the Damaturu fly over contract filtered the air, it attracted accolades in many quarters and of course, reservations in some quarters. This is very normal and usual with every human endeavour.
It is pertinent to note that His Excellency the Executive Governor of Yobe State, Hon. Mai Mala Buni CON, COMN, while presenting the 2025 budget to the state House of Assembly, emphatically said “The widespread of road projects is intended to give a facelift and accessibility to our communities. Government is committed to the completion of the seventeen ongoing road projects, and to embark on eleven new ones. The completion of the township roads and drainages in five Local Government Areas is very dear to the government. I am also pleased to inform you that work would soon commence for the construction of the Damaturu flyover. We would also commence work on the Damaturu Green Economic City”.
Similarly, the budget allocated funds to other sectors to run simultaneously to improve the lives of the people without obstructing the execution of other projects and programmes in other sectors.
Importantly, the budget went through open process of careful and critical scrutiny, with Civil Society Organizations, individuals and groups in attendance.
Throughout the public sitting, none of the interest groups and individuals identified any project including the Damaturu flyover road as a misplacement of priority that would be at the expense of another, and as they may say, it is robbing Peter to pay Paul.
There is no doubt that the Damaturu flyover project will not only check the numerous congestion and accidents in the metropolis but, also beautify Damaturu, from a glorified local government headquarters to a beffiting state capital that is comparable to its peers, and a pride of every Yobean.
This takes us to the Muhammadu Buhari lnternational Cargo Airport as a reference point. When Gov. Buni took over the leadership of the state in 2019, there was an argument for and against the completion of the airport.
Many people described it as a wasteful project while others urged the new administration to ensure its completion. And when Gov. Buni finally announced the completion of the airport which was still at skeletal stage, it put such arguments to halt.
Gov. Buni’s argument was that, abandoning the project at that level would be a monumental loss to the state that would only attract untold inflation whenever any administration decides to complete the airport. Thanks to the wise decision, and the deep futuristic thinking by Governor Buni.
Today, the argument over the completion of the airport is now history. It is
completed and commissioned. It remains
one of the iconic legacy projects, with a very prosperous future to the state.
Already, some international investors have indicated interest in direct and indirect investments in the state. The Qatari business community and most recently, the Moroccan Investment, lmport and Export Development Agency, said the airport is a window to a fruitful economic partnership that would generate employment and wealth creation.
The same criticisms greeted the Kano, Maiduguri, Yola, Kaduna and Jalingo flyovers.
Surprisingly, some characters who lauded the flyovers elsewhere have suddenly changed their positions with the Damaturu flyover.
As a known fact, there may be no single government project or programme that would generate100% support from the public, as everyone may have his opinion for or against such project.
We should always see such projects positively and support government in its development strides to make Damaturu a state capital that is in tune with the changing times.
Damaturu Flyover: The Making of A Befitting State Capital
Kidnapped Munya LGA Secretary Regains Freedom as Security Forces Intensify Rescue Efforts
By: Zagazola Makama
The Niger State Police Command has confirmed the release of Usman Daina, the Secretary of Munya Local Government Council, who was abducted by armed bandits.
Daina was freed unhurt following a sustained pursuit operation by security forces. However, authorities have stated that efforts are still ongoing to rescue other victims who remain in captivity and to ensure the arrest of the perpetrators.
Zagazola Makama had reported that On Feb. 21, 2025, heavily armed bandits launched an attack on Munya Local Government Area, abducting several residents, including the council secretary.
It was gathered that that the assailants moved from Chibani forest through the Shakwata axis before striking various communities, including the Dandaudu area of Munya LGA.
The attackers invaded homes, looted food supplies, and forcefully took away multiple victims.
Following the abduction, the Nigerian Army troops, police tactical teams, vigilantes, and other security forces were deployed to track the movements of the kidnappers.
Their aggressive pursuit led to the successful release of Daina, while efforts continue to rescue the remaining captives and dismantle the criminal network responsible for the attack.
Sources said that the security forces are currently conducting aerial surveillance, intelligence-driven operations, and ground raids on identified bandit hideouts in the region.
Kidnapped Munya LGA Secretary Regains Freedom as Security Forces Intensify Rescue Efforts
FG unveils 39 inmate transport vehicles, armoured booths for prison security
Damaturu Flyover: The Making of A Befitting State Capital
Kidnapped Munya LGA Secretary Regains Freedom as Security Forces Intensify Rescue Efforts
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