Senate pushes assertive foreign policy, confirms Enikanolaiye as Minister

The Senate on Wednesday approved the nomination of Sola Enikanolaiye as the minister of State for Foreign Affairs, tasking him with driving a firmer, outcome-focused foreign policy to safeguard Nigerians overseas and strengthen the country’s global standing.

… Vows stronger response to attacks on Nigerians abroad

… Urges AU action, reciprocity in diplomatic ties

… Raises concerns over funding gaps, suggests PPP for idle assets

The decision followed his screening at a plenary presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, where the nominee signalled a departure from what lawmakers described as years of weak diplomatic responses and passive engagement, especially in handling attacks on Nigerians abroad.

Addressing senators, Enikanolaiye said Nigeria must move beyond routine condemnations in the face of recurring xenophobic violence and killings of its citizens in foreign countries, particularly within Africa.

“The solution to any issue is not to kill people in barbarous attacks. We will move beyond condemnation,” he said, drawing strong reactions from lawmakers who have long criticised the country’s diplomatic approach as ineffective.

His remarks come amid heightened concerns over the safety of Nigerians in countries such as South Africa and Ghana, where reports of harassment, violence and restrictive policies have strained bilateral relations.

The minister-designate outlined a more robust foreign policy anchored on firmness, reciprocity and measurable outcomes, insisting that diplomacy must extend beyond rhetoric to strategic and visible action.

“Diplomacy is not just about words. It also involves body language and the ability to demonstrate that a country has options. We must begin to act in ways that command respect,” he said.

As part of this approach, Enikanolaiye proposed taking the issue of attacks on Nigerians to the African Union, stressing that the pattern of violence requires coordinated continental action.

“What is happening goes beyond isolated cases of xenophobia. It is something more expansive that demands coordinated intervention at the African level,” he added.

He explained that Nigeria would adopt a multi-layered strategy involving direct presidential engagement, parliamentary diplomacy and multilateral pressure to hold offending countries accountable.

The nominee also stressed that foreign policy must become more citizen-focused, delivering concrete benefits to Nigerians both at home and abroad.

“Our foreign policy must impact the lives of Nigerians. It should create opportunities and also guarantee their safety wherever they are,” he said.

On structural challenges, Enikanolaiye highlighted chronic underfunding of Nigeria’s foreign missions, citing discrepancies between approved budgets and actual releases.

“There is always a mismatch between what is approved and what is eventually released. This has serious implications for our operations abroad,” he said.

He noted that funding delays often result in unpaid salaries for local staff, inability to meet obligations and disruptions to the welfare of diplomats and their families, including children’s education.

Describing the issue as systemic, he blamed the budgetary envelope system for failing to reflect the realities of Nigeria’s global diplomatic commitments.

Enikanolaiye also revealed that Nigeria owns more than 500 properties worldwide, many of which are abandoned or underutilised.

“We have more than 500 government-owned properties abroad, and a significant number of them are not being optimally utilised,” he said.

To address this, he proposed a public-private partnership model to unlock the value of the assets and generate sustainable funding for foreign missions.

“That is one viable way to ensure consistent funding for our foreign missions,” he added, noting that the framework had already secured Federal Executive Council approval but required urgent implementation.

Drawing on past experience, the nominee cited examples of successful diplomatic interventions achieved through firm engagement, including negotiations in India that led to designated law enforcement contacts in areas with large Nigerian populations.

“When we engage at the highest levels and remain firm, we get results. That is the approach we must institutionalise,” he said.

On South Africa, he acknowledged existing bilateral agreements but noted that weak enforcement had undermined their effectiveness, while also pointing to regulatory hurdles in Ghana affecting Nigerian businesses.

Lawmakers, who spoke extensively during the session, expressed concern over the treatment of Nigerians abroad and called for a foreign policy that prioritises national dignity and citizen protection.

They also raised issues affecting missions, including lack of operational vehicles, poorly maintained properties in prime locations and bureaucratic challenges in managing assets.

Concerns over Nigeria’s visa regime were also highlighted, with senators warning that entry restrictions faced by foreigners could hurt diplomatic and economic interests.

Several lawmakers expressed confidence in Enikanolaiye’s ability to drive reforms, describing his nomination as timely.

“This is a round peg in a round hole,” Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senate leader, said.

Sani Bello, chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, said, having reviewed the nominee’s résumé, there was no doubt about his competence.

“He has served in the foreign service for about 40 years. I also had the privilege of working with him when he was Acting High Commissioner to India.

“Mr President, I therefore strongly recommend that this House support the nomination of Amb. Enikanolaiye as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.

Also speaking, Sen. Adams Oshiomhole (APC-Edo) said Nigeria had undertaken numerous engagements abroad.

“This explains why Nigeria has spent billions of dollars and deployed its men and women to foreign countries to uphold and defend various African nations at different times.

“Yet, as we can see from recent developments in South Africa, this long-standing commitment, one that places Africa at the centre of our foreign policy has not attracted a reciprocal response from other African countries.

“Even in international engagements, such as elections into global bodies, we often observe voting patterns along linguistic lines.

This raises important questions about mutual support and strategic alignment,” he said.

Oshiomhole added, “Recently, I was encouraged when President Bola Tinubu indicated that there would be a policy shift, stating that Nigeria and Nigerians must now be the centrepiece of our foreign policy, rather than Africa as a whole.”

With his confirmation, expectations are high that the new minister will translate his proposals into concrete action and reshape Nigeria’s engagement on the global stage.