Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has warned foreign missions to stop bypassing her ministry to deal directly with the Presidency and other arms of government, declaring that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 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 added that official requests must be routed through the ministry to ensure coordination and institutional memory.
"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.
The Minister said Nigeria will pursue strategic autonomy under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu — choosing its friends and positions strictly on national interest, mutual respect and reciprocity.
"Strategic autonomy does not mean isolation. It means preserving Nigeria's sovereign right to determine relationships that best serve our people," she declared.
She said Tinubu's foreign policy is anchored on Four Ds — Demography, Development, Democracy and Diaspora — and described Nigeria's posture as Nigeria-centered, 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.
"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 said, urging efficiency and transparency.
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 remains open for trade, investment and technology partnership but insisted on sovereign equality and reciprocity, warning that no country can tackle terrorism, climate change, cyber insecurity and irregular migration alone.
She said Nigeria will stay active in ECOWAS, AU, UN and Commonwealth and continue to demand a stronger African voice in global decisions.
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