October 1, 2012
• Nigeria can defend self against any aggression –Ashiru
Recently, Nigeria’s foreign policy has been severally criticized. A crosssection of the people including experts believe her foreign policy should be reviewed if Nigeria must take her place in the comity of nations. As the nation celebrates its 52nd independence anniversary today, Daily Sun spoke with Foreign Minister, Ambassador Gbenga Ashiru. EMMA EMEOZOR and PAULINUS AIDOGHIE bring in the excerpts.
The House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs has called for a new foreign policy road map, saying Nigeria must live up to the name, “Giant of Africa.” How has your ministry approached the issue?
Nigeria has always had, and will continue to have a foreign policy road map. Here, what I mean is that we have a foreign policy template that is the plank on which we base the pursuit of our national interests. From one successive administration to another, emphasis have always differed, beginning at Independence in 1960 when our foreign policy thrust was the liberation of the continent from all forms of foreign domination.
Currently under our watch, Nigeria’s foreign policy road map is economic diplomacy, meaning that we are aiming at using diplomacy to attract investments into Nigeria in a manner that will and indeed complement Mr. President’s Transformation Agenda. Joint Commissions and lately the concept of Bi-National Commissions (BNCs) have been deployed to achieve our national development objective. At the last count, we had BNC’s with South Africa, Algeria, United States of America, Canada, Germany; the last three within the past one year alone.
Nigerians find it difficult to define the nation’s foreign policy. The picture is that of each minister coming with different concept. What is your take on this?
The answer to your first question provides adequately for your second question. Foreign policy postures may change in consonance with the challenges and priorities of the time. As I said earlier, at independence, the challenge was getting rid of foreign domination in Africa. This, we pursued, vigorously until 1994 when the white minority rule was dismantled in South Africa. Under my watch, giving the challenge of growing our national economy to alleviate poverty by creating jobs, our approach is the concept and practice of economic diplomacy. This is why, in addition to Joint Commissions and Bi-National Commissions, we organize trade and business round tables on the sidelines of our international meetings and the foreign engagements of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
What are your achievements as Nigeria celebrates 52nd anniversary?
I have earlier enumerated the countries with which we have BNCs, which is inclusive of South Africa, Algeria, USA, Canada, and Germany etc. The BNC with Germany has given rise to investment inflows in the area of energy research and power, re-forestation, emission control and capacity building for research in solar energy for universities. The following projects are an off-shoot of the BNC with Germany:
• The 65 million 30 megawatts Kiri dam project in Adamawa;
• The 50 million 20 megawatts Yola Solar power station and
• The 1,5 billion megawatts Gombe coal to power station;
• The 450 megawatts National Independent Power Project (NIPP) Geregu Power Station, Phase two in Ajaokuta;
• The Redd+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) projects for Adamawa, Borno, Cross River, Kano, Ogun and Sokoto States.
• The Pilot solar power plants for Universities of Ibadan, Lagos, Sokoto and Bayelsa.
There is also the $40 million inflow from a Kenya-based U.S. agricultural outfit, for rice farming in Taraba State. Other countries such as Mexico have also invested heavily in agric-business.
During the past one year, Nigerians elected into positions in international organizations have increased. These include:
• Election of Mr. Adamu Mohammed, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, as the Vice President of INTERPOL representing Africa at their meeting held in Hanoi, Vietnam in October, 2011;
• Re-election of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Hon. Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN to the International Law Commission on 17 November, 2011;
• The election of Dr. Chile Eboe-Osuji as one of the six judges of the ICC in a tightly contested election in New York in November, 2011;
• A Nigerian, Ambassador (Dr.) Aisha Laraba Abdullahi, who is Nigeria’s Ambassador to Guinea Conakry, won the election to the post of Commissioner for Political Affairs of the African Union;
• Nigeria’s Dr. Kanayo Felix Nwanze, secured endorsement for re-election as President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD);
• Another Nigerian, Dr. Olumuyiwa Bernard Aliu, also secured the endorsement of the AU for the election (scheduled to hold in 2013) to the post of President of the Executive Council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO);
• Again, last June, Hon. Bethel Amadi emerged as the President of the Pan – African Parliament (PAP) in a keenly contested election
• There is also Dr. Kolawole Aduloju, who was elected Assistant Secretary – General of the Pan –African Postal Union (PAPU); and
• Mrs. Theodora Oby Nwankwo was endorsed for election to the UN Committee on the Elimination of all Forms of discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
• Nigeria has also been elected into the Governing Councils of various International Organizations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). These elections have raised the visibility of our country, while earning Nigeria greater international respect in the international community.
This brings to mind, the issue of Bakassi. On October 10, Cameroon will officially take over Bakassi. How do you feel as Foreign Minister, especially in view of the anger across the country?
The position of the Federal Government is very clear on this; that as a responsible member of the international community and in keeping with the tenet of our constitution, we shall continue to respect our international law and treaty obligations. However, we must also, reiterate our confidence in the Nigeria-Cameroon Mixed Commission and the follow-up Committee on the peaceful implementation of the Green Tree Agreement (GTA).
A cross section of Nigerians believes Bakassi should be revisited. And they have made several suggestions. Why is the government reluctant to act accordingly?
Yes, we have observed the agitations in the media on this issue with keen interest, which is understandable, in the given circumstances. However, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is clear on this. Article 61 in its entirety, is quite explicit on the issue of appeal. We want to believe that those Nigerians that are piqued by the ICJ ruling and the consequent Green Tree Agreement will find the letter and spirit of this ICJ Article instructive. The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice I believe will continue to advise government on this issue.
On non-alignment policy, don’t you believe it will do Nigeria better to enter into military pacts with one of the big powers just as Cameroon has with France?
The Group of 77 (G-77), which is essentially a body of non-aligned nations, is still a veritable tool of engagement in the international fora. While we agree that it is more relevant in a bi-polar symmetry, it is, nonetheless important in the current Uni-polar situation. We do not view any of our neighbours as a threat to warrant going into a defence pact with any extra African power. Besides, Nigeria is capable of defending itself against any external aggression or internal subversion, though the cooperation and assistance of friendly countries are always welcome.
You have made very strong pronouncements condemning the ill-treatment of Nigerians in the Diaspora. Are you succeeding? In other words, is the international community listening?
Yes, part of our policy thrust is fair and decent treatment of Nigerians wherever they may be. We did make a pronouncement on it in our inaugural outing with principal envoys accredited to Nigeria. We wish to reiterate it here and we must say that at all given opportunities, we made practical our pronouncements. That is to say, we talked the talk and walked the walk. We will continue to insist that Nigerians be accorded respect and treated with dignity, whether in the matter of Visas or where they live or travel abroad.
Nigerian embassies and high commissions are often accused of not caring for their nationals during crisis periods. How is this sort of ‘frosty’ relationship between the people and our diplomatic missions being addressed?
At the induction course for newly-appointed Heads of Mission (Ambassadors and High Commissions), held in March, 2012, our charge to them, inter alia, was that the welfare of Nigerians in Diaspora must be taken seriously. May I also add that some of these claims are often exaggerated. In truth, Nigerian missions abroad are doing their best in the circumstances of severe financial constraint. However, as we strive to protect and promote the interests of our compatriots abroad, we also reiterate to them the imperative to be law abiding in their places of abode.
Perhaps, the minister would use this occasion to comment on the problem of inadequate funding of our diplomatic missions as well as training of our diplomats to meet modern challenges. What is your take on this?
On the question of inadequate funding, I must say that efforts are being made to address the issue. We are extremely lucky we have the listening ears of Mr. President and in both chambers of the National Assembly. This had been most gratifying.
Training of serving diplomats is also on the front burner of our undertakings in Tafawa Balewa House. For middle-level diplomats we have a programme, 36 + 1, whereby, one middle-level foreign service officer each from the 36 states of the Federation and Abuja are sent abroad for training. In 10 years or thereabout, we envisage this corps of Officers will be the people at the helm of affairs in the ministry. The Foreign Service Academy, based in Lagos, has in conjunction with University of Lagos (UNILAG), begun running Masters Degree programmes for new entrants who go to the Academy for the mandatory training before being posted abroad on training attachment. Finally, and only recently, we instituted an in-house Senior diplomatic management course for directorate cadre officers. In all of these, our emphasis is on capacity-building and human resources development for greater professionalism and efficient service delivery.
What is the future of our foreign policy? Put differently, how would you want Nigerians to remember you when you leave office?
The future of our foreign policy is bright, very bright. We say this because; it is the driver of a policy that is of paramount importance if the policy is to succeed. Thus, the training programmes we have put in place, as enumerated above, will ensure that Nigeria’s foreign policy will not lack competent and capable drivers in the future. Besides, I would like to be remembered for effectively deploying foreign policy and diplomacy as an instrument for the promotion of Nigeria’s national development agenda and priorities; for job and wealth creation; for the implementation of Mr. President’s Transformation Agenda.
SOURCE: 1 October 2012.
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