Michael Olugbode in Abuja
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, on Wednesday warned foreign missions to stop bypassing her ministry to deal directly with the presidency and other arms of government, declaring that Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) remains the only official channel to the Nigerian government.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu issued the warning on Thursday at her first formal briefing with the Diplomatic Corps since assuming office as substantive foreign minister.
“This ministry is your diplomatic home. My doors remain open,” she told ambassadors, high commissioners, and international organisations.
But she added that official requests must be routed through the ministry to ensure coordination and institutional memory.
The minister said, “Bypassing established channels risks conflicting information, duplication, and avoidable misunderstandings. We are not an obstacle. We are your bridge to the Nigerian government.”
She said Nigeria will pursue strategic autonomy under President Bola Tinubu — choosing its friends and positions strictly on national interest, mutual respect, and reciprocity.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu stated, “Strategic autonomy does not mean isolation. It means preserving Nigeria’s sovereign right to determine relationships that best serve our people.”
She said Tinubu’s foreign policy was anchored on four Ds — Demography, Development, Democracy and Diaspora — and described Nigeria’s posture as Nigeria-centred, Africa-conscious, and globally engaged.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu announced a push to revive dormant joint commissions and bi-national commissions, insisting that diplomatic warmth must produce tangible results in trade, investment, security, education, and technology.
She thanked foreign capitals for prompt Agrément for Nigeria’s ambassadorial nominees and pledged faster presentation of Letters of Credence for envoys in Abuja.
On consular frictions, she hit at prolonged visa delays for Nigerians.
The minister stated, “We respect every country’s sovereign right to determine its visa policy, but excessively long waiting periods create considerable difficulties for legitimate travellers, students, businesspersons, and families.”
She urged efficiency and transparency in consular matters.
She reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment under the Vienna Conventions to protect diplomatic personnel and premises, and urged missions to report security concerns promptly.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said Nigeria remained open for trade, investment, and technology partnership, but insisted on sovereign equality and reciprocity.
She warned that no country could tackle terrorism, climate change, cyber insecurity, and irregular migration alone.
The minster said Nigeria will stay active in ECOWAS, AU, UN, and Commonwealth, and continue to demand a stronger African voice in global decisions.